Zelensky Announces Ukraine's Readiness for a Pause in Strikes on Moscow in Exchange for Russia Ceasing Attacks on Kyiv

On September 5, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv is prepared to refrain from aerial strikes on Moscow for a limited period. According to him, this decision was made following a conversation with representatives of the U.S. president, who have already begun working with the Russian side. Kyiv expects Moscow to mirror this by refraining from strikes on the Ukrainian capital, and this arrangement is tied to the preparation of a negotiation process involving a U.S. delegation.

Mutual Readiness for a Pause in Aerial Strikes

As reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing Zelensky's address, since the conversation with the American side, "the parties are ready to observe a cessation of aerial strikes on the cities involved in the negotiation process." The president explicitly set the timeframe: "From now until the end of this Saturday, on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv." Thus, the pause covers Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with the Ukrainian side framing it as a unilateral readiness coupled with an expectation of reciprocal steps from Moscow.

Diplomatic Track and Visit of the U.S. Delegation

Zelensky also reported that he had heard briefings from Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi on the situation at the front, the dynamics of aerial threats, and Ukraine's active defensive operations. He emphasized that on the diplomatic front, Kyiv's actions will be "just as strong and effective," and that the plan of diplomatic measures for the following day in Kyiv, involving the American team, has already been approved. "We are waiting for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a substantive conversation," the president added, pointing to the expected visit of the U.S. administration's envoys.

Kremlin Position and Geographic Scope of the Pause

Earlier, the Kremlin announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had instructed that no strikes be carried out on Kyiv for three days — from midnight on September 6 to September 9 — linking this to the preparation and conduct of negotiations in the capital. However, head of the Center for Countering Disinformation Andriy Kovalenko noted that the pause declared by the Kremlin concerns only the city of Kyiv, with no mention of Kyiv Oblast or other regions. This creates a significant asymmetry in the geographic scope of the declared restrictions on both sides.

Contradictory Data

There are a number of inconsistencies in the statements of the parties and in fact-checking materials. First, the timeframes differ: Zelensky describes the pause as "until the end of Saturday, on Sunday and Monday," whereas the Kremlin specifies the period "from midnight on September 6 to September 9," i.e., effectively until the end of Tuesday. Second, RBC-Ukraine presents the situation as "mutual agreement," yet Zelensky frames Ukraine's position as a unilateral readiness with an "expectation" of a reciprocal step from Moscow, rather than as a signed bilateral agreement. Third, according to several outlets (NewTimes, Meduza), Russia carried out demonstrative strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil amid reports of the U.S. negotiators' visit, which calls into question the reality and durability of the announced pause at the moment of its announcement. Finally, the geographic scope of the restrictions does not match: the Ukrainian pause is tied to Moscow, while the Russian one is limited to Kyiv without Kyiv Oblast.

Background and Reactions of the Parties

It is worth recalling that earlier, head of the Presidential Office Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that Ukraine had proposed to Russia to cease fire both at the front and in the air, but Moscow had not responded to that proposal. In this context, Zelensky's current statement appears as an attempt to establish a limited regime of mutual restraint on aerial strikes precisely during the preparation for negotiations with the U.S. delegation, while both sides retain the right to strike territories not covered by the declared scope.