Putin shows no sign of halting strikes during U.S. envoys’ Kyiv visit

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has shown no indication of ceasing military operations in Ukraine during the upcoming visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Kyiv. According to an analysis by the Institute for the Study of War, Russia is unwilling to commit to the safety of the American delegation, indicating a lack of recognition of the U.S. as a mediator in peace negotiations.

The Kremlin's stance aims to compel Washington to engage exclusively with Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner will indeed visit Ukraine on September 6, following a trip to Russia on the previous day. In a bid to ensure the safety of the visiting delegation, Ukraine has suspended long-range strikes against Russia for a period spanning from midnight on September 5th to 11:59 PM on September 8th.

U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and former senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner have reportedly expressed apprehensions about their personal security during the trip. Ukrainian Defense Forces have been instructed to temporarily halt firing along the contact line from midnight on September 5th through 11:59 PM on September 8th, an initiative taken solely by Ukraine without any prior agreement from Russia.

Suspilne sources have denied claims of a ceasefire along the frontline, while RBC-Ukraine reported Ukraine's expectation of a response from Russia regarding a proposal for a temporary ceasefire in airstrikes. The United States has requested Ukraine to suspend drone attacks on Moscow and Russian energy infrastructure throughout the duration of Witkoff and Kushner's visit.