Moscow, September 5, 2026 – The Europe Today: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day suspension of Russian strikes on Kyiv, coinciding with the arrival of senior US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow for talks aimed at advancing efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday that Putin, in his capacity as Russia’s president and commander-in-chief, had instructed the Russian armed forces not to conduct strikes on Kyiv for three days beginning at midnight.
According to Peskov, the decision was intended to facilitate negotiations between the US representatives and Ukrainian officials in Kyiv. Witkoff and Kushner are expected to travel to the Ukrainian capital following their meetings in Moscow, including discussions with President Putin.
The announcement followed reports by several Ukrainian media outlets that Ukrainian forces had also been instructed to observe a temporary halt in attacks from midnight Saturday until Tuesday.
Ukrainian broadcaster Suspilne subsequently quoted Ukrainian officials as saying that Kyiv had submitted a proposal to Moscow for a temporary cessation of hostilities along the front line, together with a suspension of air strikes. According to the report, Russia had not responded to the proposal at the time of the statement.
The talks come as Washington continues diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the conflict. US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were traveling with a proposal aimed at ending the war, although he did not disclose details of the initiative.
Since the beginning of Trump’s second term in early 2025, Witkoff and Kushner have made several visits to Moscow as part of US efforts to facilitate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
Despite periods of diplomatic engagement, negotiations have remained difficult, with Moscow and Kyiv continuing to hold divergent positions on several key issues. Hopes for progress had increased following a meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska last year, but subsequent diplomatic efforts have encountered significant obstacles.
Nevertheless, Putin has expressed support for continued engagement with the two US negotiators. Speaking on Thursday, the Russian president praised their efforts and described Witkoff and Kushner as welcome interlocutors with whom Moscow was prepared to continue working.
The latest temporary pause in strikes comes as diplomatic contacts intensify, with the planned meetings in Moscow and Kyiv expected to focus on possible pathways toward a negotiated settlement of the Ukraine conflict.
