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

ISW said the stance shows Moscow is unwilling to recognize the United States as a mediator in peace talks and is seeking to force Washington to negotiate only with Russia.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has shown no sign that Russia will halt strikes on Ukraine during the Sept. 6 visit by U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff and former senior presidential adviser Jared Kushner.

“Putin’s apparent unwillingness to guarantee the safety of the American delegation in Ukraine indicates the Kremlin’s unwillingness to recognize the United States as a mediator in peace talks and underscores Russia’s efforts to force the United States to negotiate exclusively with Russia,” ISW said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Sept. 4 that Witkoff and Kushner will visit Ukraine on Sept. 6, after visiting Russia on Sept. 5. Ukraine suspended long-range strikes on Russia for that period to ensure the “normal functioning of Russian airspace,” Zelenskyy said.

Sources close to President Donald Trump’s administration said Witkoff and Kushner had expressed concerns about their safety during the trip to Ukraine.

Ukrainska Pravda reported overnight on Sept. 5 that Ukraine’s Defense Forces had been ordered to temporarily refrain from firing along the line of contact from midnight on Sept. 5 through 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 8. The move was a Ukrainian initiative, and no agreement with Russia had yet been reached. Suspilne sources, however, denied reports of a ceasefire along the front.

RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukraine was awaiting Russia’s response to a proposal for a temporary halt to airstrikes. The U.S. side was expected to discuss the proposal separately with Moscow.

The New York Times reported that the United States had asked Ukraine to suspend drone attacks on Moscow and Russian energy facilities during Witkoff and Kushner’s visit.