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Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed on September 5 that its forces had carried out new strikes against Ukraine, effectively rejecting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for a temporary halt to aerial attacks.
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its forces had struck military targets in several Ukrainian regions. However, it provided no evidence to support these claims.
The ministry also accused Ukraine of launching an overnight attack on Russian territory, claiming that Russian air defenses had neutralized 53 Ukrainian drones over several regions. No evidence supporting this claim was provided either.
Zelenskyy called for a temporary truce
On September 4, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would refrain from carrying out airstrikes on Russia on Saturday and Sunday while U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, traveled to Moscow and Kyiv.
“From our side, there will be no airstrikes. Russia should ensure a reciprocal pause in its airstrikes for the period needed for these talks and the logistical arrangements related to the visit,” Zelenskyy said.
The proposed pause was intended to ensure the safe travel of the American negotiators and allow the planned meetings to take place.
Trump previously said Witkoff and Kushner were taking proposals on ending the war to both Moscow and Kyiv. At the same time, reports suggested expectations for their visit to Moscow were low.
The envoys’ earlier trip to Kyiv had also been postponed amid intensified Russian attacks.
