Developments in the Ukrainian crisis are rapid, as following an unprecedented standoff over whether Ukraine had unilaterally declared a truce with Russia, the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, put an end to Kyiv's dirty games and announced that he ordered the Russian military to halt attacks on the Ukrainian capital for three days, starting today, September 5, to ensure the visit of Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, is not disrupted.
This had been preceded by an insidious scheme from Kyiv, which, through media leaks and Telegram posts, claimed a ceasefire that had neither been officially proclaimed nor confirmed by the Ukrainian side.
In fact, Kyiv rushed within hours to accuse Moscow of violating the truce, seeking in this manner to demonstrate to American negotiators that Russia is the party standing in opposition to every peace endeavor.
Putin's order for a ceasefire
The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, issued orders that no strikes be carried out against the capital of Ukraine for a period of three days, owing to preparations underway there for the visit of the special envoys of the American leader, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
This was stated to Interfax journalists by the press secretary of the Russian President, Dmitry Peskov.
He clarified that the partial ceasefire is in effect from 00:00 Moscow time on September 5 until 00:00 Moscow time on September 8.
Russian media report that the Kremlin's decision is not related to any new agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, and that it was taken autonomously by the Russian leadership.
Meeting with Witkoff and Kushner
Peskov also confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet today with Witkoff and Kushner.
As Peskov maintained, there is currently no discussion of fresh concepts regarding the settlement of the conflict in Ukraine, invoking yesterday's statements by Donald Trump.
Indeed, Peskov urged observers not to make predictions regarding settlement concepts and to await the meeting between Vladimir Putin and the American negotiators.
It is noted that earlier today, September 5, the aircraft carrying the American delegation headed by Witkoff and Kushner landed at Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.
The American officials were received by the special representative of the President of the Russian Federation, Kirill Dmitriev.
On September 6, they will travel to Kyiv for negotiations.
Slutsky (Russia): Putin's decision underscores Moscow's readiness for dialogue
The decision of Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt strikes against Kyiv for three days provides an opportunity for the negotiating process and underscores Moscow's readiness for dialogue, argued the Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, Leonid Slutsky.
«Russia demonstrates once again its commitment to a peaceful settlement», Slutsky commented regarding the suspension of attacks.
According to him, the Russian side sought from the outset to resolve the conflict through agreements, yet negotiations, as he maintained, were repeatedly undermined by Ukraine.
«We hope that the American envoys have indeed brought proposals that will contribute to a lasting peace.
We are ready for this, and the terms have been formulated», noted the Russian lawmaker.
What Ukrainian media reported
Yesterday evening, a series of Ukrainian media outlets and Telegram channels reported on an alleged three-day truce proclaimed by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, taking effect from today, Saturday September 5, through September 8.
Specifically, on the night of September 4, Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources, reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine received orders to observe a ceasefire from 00:00 on September 5 until 23:59 on September 8.
Subsequently, Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko also spoke of a three-day truce.
According to him, the ceasefire was to apply across all domains, on land, in the air, and at sea.
A similar order was reported by the prominent Ukrainian military channel Nikolaevsky Vanek.
No official announcement
However, there was no official announcement regarding this from either the Russian or the Ukrainian side.
Russian channels and public forums reported that their forces had received no truce orders.
Concurrently, airstrikes continued uninterrupted throughout the night.
Accusing Russia
By morning, Ukrainian channels and public pages, citing the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, began reporting en masse that Russia violated the ceasefire regime overnight and that Ukraine was resuming combat operations.
In reality, however, neither the military command nor the Ukrainian authorities had issued any such statement.
The reporting originated from Ukrainska Pravda, which obtained a comment from the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
From that specific comment, however, it does not follow that a ceasefire regime had actually been proclaimed.
Unilateral... truce
«A ceasefire regime cannot be unilateral or asymmetric, otherwise it would pose a hazard to the lives and health of our service members.
Consequently, defensive operational tasks are currently being executed in full.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine continue executing assigned tasks for the defense of Ukraine according to plan», Ukrainska Pravda reports, citing General Staff representatives.
Zero confirmation
Judging by this wording, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not directly confirm that a ceasefire order had been issued.
Nor did it clarify whether this had been coordinated with Russia.
Hence, the question arises: what exactly was all this?
Typically, truces, even unilateral ones, were always announced publicly, either by presidents or by defense ministries and general staffs.
The most recent example was the May 9 truce declared by the President of Russia, Vladimir Putin.
Ceasefire via media and Telegram
This time, however, the ceasefire from the Ukrainian side was «announced» exclusively via media outlets and Telegram channels.
And through the same avenues it was subsequently declared that Russia «violated» it, while Moscow offered no commentary on the matter at all.
At the same time, neither Zelensky nor the Ukrainian Defense Ministry issued any statement regarding a three-day truce.
Remarkably, all this unfolds against the backdrop of the visit to Moscow and Kyiv by representatives of the US President, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
Today, Saturday September 5, they arrived in Russia, and tomorrow, Sunday September 6, they are expected in Ukraine.
Potential pause in aerial attacks
American media, as well as Russian authorities, noted yesterday the likelihood of a temporary pause in aerial strikes being announced for this window.
Meaning, according to this logic, the Russians would not strike Ukraine tomorrow, when the arrival of Witkoff and Kushner in Kyiv is scheduled.
Zelensky, for his part, publicly stated that Ukraine would refrain from airstrikes against the Russian Federation during the visit of White House representatives to Moscow.
As we see, however, the Ukrainian President did not announce any comprehensive three-day truce.
It was «announced» solely through unofficial press stories and social media channels.
Why did this happen?
In complete coordination
It is difficult to presume that information regarding a truce appeared without coordination with Bankova, namely the Ukrainian presidential administration.
Most likely, in this manner Ukrainian authorities chose to reinforce the core narrative they planned to convey to Donald Trump's envoys: «We favor ending the war, while Moscow is opposed and constitutes the primary obstacle.
Therefore, apply pressure on them and not on us».
Leaks
Yet if a unilateral truce had been officially proclaimed by Zelensky, it could have created complications for Ukrainian units on the front line, as Russian forces would have continued combat operations.
For this reason, in all probability, it was decided to «announce» it via media leaks.
It cannot be ruled out, however, that Ukrainian authorities will declare post hoc that the truce was breached by the Russian side.
Surprise decision
Putin's decision surprised even veteran Russian war correspondents and military bloggers, who had initially treated Kyiv's initiative with profound skepticism.
Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka, commenting on the initial truce announcement, wrote: «Zelensky announced a truce... From midnight today until the end of September 8. It seems things are very bad for him.
Very bad indeed...
From the Russian side so far complete indifference.
He announced it and that is that, you never know what he might announce there.
It would be strange if, in today's situation, anything different occurred».
War correspondent Alexander Kots, for his part, suggested not treating Kyiv's explanation as the sole plausible one: «And why all of a sudden? Do Kushner and Witkoff intend to go to the line of contact? Or did they burn down some major depot of your "Wall of Drones" and you need a pause to replenish your reserves?».
Following the news of Putin's decision, Kots pointed out that the restrictions imposed apply exclusively to Kyiv: «Kyiv was granted three days of respite. There is zero talk of any ceasefire across the entire line of contact, as Zelensky wanted. And the other cities, do not relax».
Window of opportunity
The scheduled visits of special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv demonstrate the US conviction that the «window of opportunity» for a peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian issue has not yet closed, writes Responsible Statecraft.
The publication cites former CIA director for Russia analysis George Beebe, who characterized the development as «especially encouraging», stating that all sides have «compelling reasons» to find a path to halt hostilities.
«However, he warned that to capitalize on this favorable opening, the deep mistrust between the two nations must be overcome», the article notes.
According to the analyst, both Moscow and Kyiv will seek concrete guarantees during talks, the achievement of which requires US involvement.
On the preceding day, US President Donald Trump stated that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, during their upcoming visit to Russia, will present proposals to end the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump: Witkoff and Kushner will deliver peace proposal to Russia for Ukraine
According to statements by Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner carry concrete proposals for the peaceful resolution of military operations in Ukraine, with the US President estimating that strong prospects now exist for reaching an agreement and halting the conflict.
«They have a proposal with them to end the war», he told reporters in the Oval Office.
«It is not something entirely new», Trump added.
He also stated that Washington has an idea for peace in Ukraine, while withholding specific details.
Moscow's warning to Washington: «Accept the new front-line balance for an agreement to exist»
The Russian side set forth its official stance regarding the mission of American presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend, who carry a peace proposal.
In public statements, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov underscored that any endeavor to end the conflict presupposes a comprehensive understanding of the situation taking shape on the battlefield.
He stressed that the decisive factor is whether American leadership intends to pursue a substantive solution, factoring in shifting conditions at the front, which do not favor the Ukrainian side.
Concurrently, he voiced reservations concerning American policy consistency following the summit in Anchorage, Alaska, and the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on August 15, 2025, pointing to pressure exerted on Washington by factions opposed to a conflict resolution.
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