Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day halt to Russian airstrikes on Kyiv starting at midnight on September 5, lasting until September 8, 2026, to coincide with the visit of US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner [1, 2, 3]. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed, "Russian President and Supreme Commander-in-Chief Putin ordered no strikes on Kyiv for three days, effective midnight today. This is due to American talks in Kyiv" [4].
Putin met Witkoff and Kushner at the Kremlin in Moscow on September 5 to discuss a US-mediated proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine [1, 5, 3]. Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow that day and are expected to travel to Kyiv on September 6 to continue negotiations with Ukrainian leaders [2, 5, 3]. During the Kremlin meeting, Putin asked to convey "best wishes and words of gratitude to US President Mr Trump," who delivered the peace proposal through the envoys [5]. Witkoff added that Trump sent his best wishes to Putin and thanked him for agreeing to the limited ceasefire during their visit [5].
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Ukraine would reciprocate by refraining from strikes on Moscow from September 5 through September 7 [1, 5, 3]. Zelenskyy said, "From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow" [5]. He also confirmed, "The Russian president, the commander-in-chief, has given the order from midnight tonight not to strike Kyiv for three days" [1].
Outside Kyiv, Russian strikes continued, killing at least five civilians in the city of Kamianske on September 5 and targeting Kyiv and Boryspil airports despite preparations for the ceasefire around the capital [1, 3]. An International Atomic Energy Agency-mediated local ceasefire was separately agreed to allow restoration work at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which lost external power on August 20 and remains on emergency generators [1].
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev met the US delegation upon arrival in Moscow on September 5, prior to talks with Putin [2, 5, 3]. Witkoff and Kushner are set to continue their diplomatic efforts with the Ukrainian government when they travel to Kyiv on September 6 [2, 5, 3].
