Putin orders a 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv as U.S. envoys visit Russia and Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin paused military strikes on Kyiv for a 72-hour window beginning at midnight on September 6, 2026. This temporary ceasefire coincided with a visit from U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin's order, stating no strikes would be conducted against Kyiv during the three-day period.

Ukrainian media had previously reported that their army would observe a ceasefire during the envoys' visit, though the specifics had not been confirmed.

Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow later that day to meet with Putin and explore the possibility of ending the war with Ukraine. They are scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. According to Trump, the envoys brought a proposal to conclude the conflict, describing them as "great negotiators."

The U.S. has been a key mediator in Russia-Ukraine talks since 2025, but the diplomatic efforts saw a significant setback in February when Washington and Jerusalem launched joint strikes on Iran, killing its leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and sparking an ongoing war. Following the Kremlin's announcement, Zelensky expressed readiness to observe a ceasefire, particularly in the cities involved in the negotiation process.

However, earlier reports indicated Russian attacks targeting major airports in Kyiv and Boryspil, killing at least five people and damaging infrastructure.

Trump aimed to revive stalled peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, having previously attempted such meetings in Alaska and Budapest, both of which ended without success. The tension between Trump and Zelensky also hindered progress, including a heated exchange in February 2025 when the U.S. President accused Zelensky of being "ungrateful" for U.S. aid and rejecting a ceasefire without security assurances.

Despite this, the relationship between Trump and Zelensky has reportedly improved in recent months, with Trump acknowledging a "good relationship" at this year's NATO summit.

This renewed push for peace talks comes amid Ukraine's intensified aerial assaults, demonstrating the nation's rapidly advancing drone and missile capabilities. In August, Ukraine launched strikes up to 1,500 miles from the border, including attacks on Wildberries warehouses, highlighting their growing capacity to strike deep inside Russian territory.