Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces not to strike Kiev for three days, as a new US diplomatic mission gets underway to try to break the deadlock on negotiations over the war in Ukraine. The news came today, Saturday 5 September: it was announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. According to reports from InterfaxPutin has ordered that no attacks will be carried out against the Ukrainian capital for three days, starting from midnight. The Russian agency indicates the period from 5 to 8 September.
What changes with Putin’s stop
“The Supreme Commander, President Vladimir Putin, has given instructions not to carry out attacks on Kiev for three days, starting from midnight today,” Peskov told Interfax. The decision, added the spokesperson, “is connected to the preparation and conduct of the Americans’ contacts in Kiev”.
Peskov also said that Moscow had received “information” regarding a cessation of attacks on the Ukrainian side. Only on Friday, when asked about the possibility that Moscow and Kiev would directly agree on security measures during the American mission, Peskov replied categorically: “No, there won’t be.”
Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow: meeting with Putin
At the center of the decision are Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the envoys of American President Donald Trump. The two arrived in Moscow on Saturday, where they were welcomed by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. The Kremlin then confirmed that Putin will meet them on the same day.
After the Russian leg, Witkoff and Kushner are expected to reach Kiev on Sunday. The visit was confirmed directly by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“It is now clearly established that American representatives will be in Ukraine and Russia in the next few days,” Zelensky said on Friday, announcing that Witkoff and Kushner would go first to Moscow and then to Kiev on Sunday.
The mission comes after days of strong remote attacks, such as the drone that on Friday also hit the headquarters of the Ukrainian Security Service, the SBU, in Kiev, in the tenth consecutive day of intense attacks on the capital.
What Trump proposes to stop the war
Trump declared that the two envoys bring with them an American proposal to try to bring an end to the war. Asked if it was a new peace proposal, the American president replied: “They bring with them a proposal to end the war,” adding that the United States has “an idea for a peaceful solution.”
The distance between the positions of Moscow and Kiev remains very wide. Reuters reports that the Kremlin continues to consider the position indicated by Putin as “unshakable”: Ukrainian renunciation of membership in NATO and cession to Russia of the entire territory of the four regions claimed by Moscow. Kiev rejects these conditions and does not agree to hand over territories that its forces continue to control.
There is therefore no shared agreement on the table yet. Instead, there is a synthetic proposal drawn up by Ukraine, the United States and European countries which should be submitted to Moscow. Zelensky explained that the document contains at least three chapters. The first concerns a possible formula for the ceasefire. The second takes up an American idea for a free economic zone in Donbass, possibly administered by a third party. The third concerns the future role of the European Union and NATO and the commitments that Kiev would be willing to assume.
Zelensky announces 3-day truce in Moscow
“I just spoke with the representatives of the American president. They have already started work with the Russian side today. Starting from this moment and until the end of this day on Saturday, and then Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is willing to refrain from attacks against Moscow, and we hope that the Russians will refrain from attacks against Kiev.” Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky announced this on Telegram after the Russian truce on Kiev. “We await Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a constructive dialogue. Thank you to everyone who is with Ukraine!”, he added in conclusion.