Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 72-hour halt to attacks on Kyiv, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced Saturday. The pause began at midnight and was linked to a visit by U.S. envoys Steve Bannon and Jared Kushner to Ukraine, Peskov said, without providing additional details.
The envoys arrived in Moscow on Saturday and are expected to visit Kyiv on Sunday. Their mission follows diplomatic efforts to establish a temporary ceasefire along the front lines.
Ukraine's Defense Ministry said it had attempted to implement a "silence regime" on the front line from September 5 at midnight through September 8 at 11:59 p.m., ahead of the U.S. envoys' visit. However, the ministry stated that Russia did not allow the plan to proceed.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's presidential office, confirmed that a ceasefire proposal had been submitted to Putin but said he did not respond to it.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Saturday that Ukraine is prepared to refrain from air strikes on Moscow through Monday. In a Telegram post, Zelenskyy said that following conversations with the U.S. representatives, Ukraine would observe a halt to air attacks on cities involved in negotiations "from now through the end of Saturday, Sunday, and Monday," and expressed hope that Russia would reciprocate by halting strikes on Kyiv.
Zelenskyy also reported receiving briefings from Defense Minister Yevhenii Khmara and Commander-in-Chief Mykhailo Drapaty regarding the situation on the front line and air defense threats. He thanked the military for effective defense of positions.
The diplomatic plan for Sunday in Kyiv involving the American delegation has been approved, according to Zelenskyy.