Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a halt to strikes on Ukraine for 72 hours, starting from midnight tonight (Saturday, 5 September). The announcement, made by a Kremlin spokesperson, came as US President Donald Trump's envoys landed in Moscow ahead of a meeting. The US envoys are also expected to visit Kyiv.
Kremlin confirms suspension of strikes
Russian News Agency TASS reported the story, saying the three-day suspension of strikes on Ukraine is "starting at midnight in connection with US negotiators’ consultations there."
Quoted by the news agency, Russian presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: "Such information did come from Ukraine. Russian President Putin, the supreme commander-in-chief, has ordered a three-day suspension of strikes on Kyiv starting at midnight today. This has to do with the Americans’ consultations that are being prepared and will be held in Kyiv."
Overnight strikes and drone alerts
Russia, however, has been striking Ukraine overnight, and it is feared that those attacks could continue. Ukraine reported Russian drones in Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Vinnytsia, and Rivne. At least seven people were injured in one of these strikes, the head of the local Ukrainian Military Administration said.
According to TASS, Mr Trump said the US "had a vision of what peace agreements between Russia and Ukraine could look like."
Envoys and recent visits
The team of envoys who reached Moscow's Vnukovo Airport also included negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
Last week, on August 26, the director of the CIA, John Ratcliffe, made a surprise visit to Moscow. It came amid fears Russia was planning to test NATO and preparing a possible military mobilisation in Ukraine.
Trump's comments on NATO
Meanwhile, President Trump also said Putin is "not looking to attack NATO territory," despite an attempted drone strike on the German airport of Leipzig that allies, including the UK, blamed on Russia.
Speaking about the incident at the Oval Office, Mr Trump said of Putin: "I speak to him. I know him very well. Putin’s not looking to attack NATO territory."
The Kremlin denied any involvement, but was accused by European countries of running a campaign of sabotage and disruption with the aim of undermining support for Ukraine and causing wider instability and unrest.
