War

BREAKING: Putin orders 3-day halt to strikes on Kyiv during US envoys' visit, Kremlin says

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BREAKING: Putin orders 3-day halt to strikes on Kyiv during US envoys' visit, Kremlin says
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a press conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on Sept. 1, 2026. (Contributor/Getty Images)

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days starting at midnight on Sept. 6, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian state media.

Peskov said the temporary halt was linked to preparations for the Kyiv visit of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. The visit is part of U.S. President Donald Trump's latest push to negotiate an end to Russia's war against Ukraine.

The announcement came hours after Witkoff and Kushner landed in Moscow for talks with Putin. They are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sept. 6.

Earlier on Sept. 5, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had deliberately targeted airports in Kyiv and Boryspil overnight, describing the strikes as a response to discussions about the possibility of the U.S. envoys arriving in Ukraine by plane.

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Tania Myronyshena

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Tania Myronyshena is a reporter at the Kyiv Independent. She has written for outlets such as United24 Media, Ukrainer, Wonderzine, as well as for PEN Ukraine, a Ukrainian non-governmental organization. Before joining the Kyiv Independent, she worked as a freelance journalist with a focus on cultural narratives and human stories. Tania holds a B.A. in publishing and editing from Borys Hrinchenko Kyiv University.

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