Key facts
- US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow with a new peace proposal from President Donald Trump.
- Russia ordered a three-day halt to strikes on Kyiv during the envoys' visit.
- Ukraine's army reportedly ordered to halt fighting from September 5-8.
- President Zelensky accused Russia of targeting Kyiv and Boryspil airports ahead of the envoys' arrival.
- President Putin stated that contacts between Moscow and Washington were beneficial.
US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday to present a new peace proposal from President Donald Trump aimed at restarting stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. The visit, which includes planned talks in Kyiv on Sunday, coincides with a reported order for Ukraine's army to halt fighting from September 5-8. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces not to strike Kyiv for three days starting at midnight on September 6, with the Kremlin stating the halt was linked to preparations for the US envoys' visit. Upon their arrival in Moscow, the US envoys were met by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev and were expected to meet President Putin later in the day. Earlier on Saturday, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated Russia had deliberately targeted airports in Kyiv and Boryspil overnight, describing the strikes as a response to discussions about the possibility of the US envoys arriving in Ukraine by plane. Zelensky confirmed that Witkoff and Kushner are expected in Kyiv on Sunday. Large gaps remain between Russia and Ukraine on how to end the war, with Russia sticking to its previous demands for Ukraine to cede territory and not join NATO, positions that are intolerable to Ukraine. The conflict has intensified in recent months, with both sides engaging in grinding ground combat and intensified aerial attacks. President Putin told the US special representatives that contacts between Moscow and Washington were always beneficial and that Russia found it convenient to work with them.