Moscow has announced a 72-hour halt to aerial attacks on Kyiv, commencing at midnight on September 6, to coincide with the arrival of U.S. peace envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the order early Saturday, stating that no strikes would be carried out against the Ukrainian capital during the three-day window.
The temporary ceasefire aligns with earlier reports from Ukrainian media that Kyiv’s military would observe a pause during the envoys’ visit. Peskov validated these reports, noting that the information originated from Ukraine. The two U.S. representatives landed in Moscow later that day to hold discussions with President Vladimir Putin regarding the termination of the conflict.
President Donald Trump described Kushner and Witkoff as “great negotiators” on Friday, emphasizing that they are presenting a proposal aimed at ending the war. Both men, who have backgrounds in real estate development, serve in diplomatic capacities for the Trump administration. Kushner, also the president’s son-in-law and former senior adviser, is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday.
Following the Kremlin’s announcement, Zelensky stated on X that he had communicated with the envoys and expressed readiness to uphold a reciprocal ceasefire. He confirmed that Ukraine would refrain from striking Moscow through the end of Monday, contingent upon Russia maintaining the pause on Kyiv. “We are ready for substantive conversation,” Zelensky wrote.
The diplomatic push follows a period of stalled mediation. The U.S. had served as a primary mediator between the warring nations throughout 2025 and into 2026, but efforts largely faltered in February after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and ignited a broader regional war. Previous attempts at de-escalation, including a July 2025 meeting in Anchorage and a canceled October summit in Budapest, yielded no agreements.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky had previously hindered progress, notably during a collapsed February 2025 Oval Office discussion. However, Trump reported at this year’s NATO summit that the two had developed a functional working relationship. Recent covert diplomacy included a trip by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow last week, which Trump characterized as “semi-routine.”r>
The ceasefire comes amid ongoing hostilities. Hours before the pause was announced, Russia launched ballistic missiles and 167 drones, targeting airports in Kyiv and Boryspil and killing five people at an industrial site. Zelensky suggested the attacks were a reaction to preparations for potential U.S. aircraft landings in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Ukraine has recently demonstrated enhanced long-range strike capabilities, conducting aerial assaults deep within Russian territory, including attacks on logistics sites up to 1,500 miles from the border.
Zelensky’s reciprocal offer is significant. If both sides truly hold the line for 72 hours, maybe there’s hope after all.
I’m just surprised Kushner and Witkoff are actually the ones leading this. Their real estate background seems odd for high-stakes diplomacy.
Seventeen days of drone strikes with five dead, then suddenly quiet? Hard to believe the sincerity here.
A three-day break feels like a pause for photos. How many peace talks have ended this way before?