Putin Orders Three-Day Halt to Kyiv Strikes Amid US Envoy Visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the Russian military to halt strikes on the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for a period of three days beginning at midnight on Saturday, Sept. 5, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced. The order coincides with the arrival of US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Saturday for diplomatic discussions regarding the war in Ukraine.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The American delegation landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport aboard a business jet, where they were met by Russian special representative Kirill Dmitriev, according to Russian media reports. Peskov’s statement follows earlier remarks by Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who speculated that Moscow would likely refrain from targeting Kyiv during the American negotiators’ stay in the region. Welcome to Moscow Peacemakers @SteveWitkoff and @jaredkushner! 🕊️https://t.co/RAQt2CebVh pic.twitter.com/nrzs3mGnGw— Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) September 5, 2026 Envoys prepare for Kyiv visit amid peace proposal Witkoff and Kushner are expected to hold talks with Russian officials in Moscow before traveling to Kyiv on Sunday, Sept. 6, to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The diplomatic mission marks the first major effort to restart negotiations since trilateral discussions in Geneva stalled in mid-February 2026. US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that he dispatched the two negotiators with a specific proposal aimed at ending the war. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump cited deep personal animosity between Zelensky and Putin as a principal obstacle to peace, stating that the two leaders “really hate each other.” Trump also asserted, without providing independent verification, that both sides suffered a combined 32,000 casualties over the past week. Other Topics of Interest Spy Hub Allegations Surround Closure of Russian Consulate in Bonn Germany has ordered the closure of the Russian consulate in Bonn amid allegations it served as a hub for espionage and hybrid operations across Europe. Zelensky confirmed on Friday that his office had coordinated the logistical details of the visit directly with Washington, noting that Ukraine was preparing to ensure safe passage for the negotiators. Peskov previously described the negotiation process as being on “a deep pause,” while reports citing sources close to the Kremlin indicated that Moscow believes the peace process had reached an impasse, with both sides holding incompatible conditions for a settlement. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 97% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.