Russia, Ukraine announce three-day halt to strikes on each other's capitals

September 6, 2026 at 08:33 AM2 min

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Russia and Ukraine have announced a temporary halt to air strikes on each other's capitals for three days starting September 5. The pause coincides with visits by US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin ordered the suspension to facilitate the American representatives' meetings in Kyiv.

Key Facts

Russia announced a three-day suspension of air strikes on Kyiv starting September 5, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
Ukraine had earlier stated its readiness to temporarily halt strikes on Moscow, expecting a reciprocal step from Russia.
US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Vladimir Putin in Moscow on September 5 for over three hours.
The American delegation is scheduled to travel to Kyiv for talks with Volodymyr Zelensky after the Moscow meeting.

The Announced Pause

Russia announced a three-day halt to air strikes on Kyiv starting September 5, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Peskov said Vladimir Putin ordered the suspension to facilitate the American representatives' meetings in Kyiv. Ukraine had earlier declared its readiness to temporarily stop strikes on Moscow, expecting Russia to take a similar step.

Diplomatic Shuttle

US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on September 5 and held talks with Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin meeting lasted more than three hours. Russia described the talks as useful and substantive, but no concrete agreement or decision fundamentally altering the war situation was announced. The American delegation is scheduled to travel to Kyiv for negotiations with Volodymyr Zelensky after the Moscow meeting.

Context and Limits

The diplomatic contacts are taking place amid intensified mutual missile and drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine. The United States had previously called on Moscow and Kyiv to temporarily halt strikes on each other during the American representatives' visit. The three-day pause is not being considered a full ceasefire agreement, as the parties' positions on a long-term cessation of hostilities remain significantly divergent.