Putin says Russia halted Kyiv strikes but never agreed to broader ceasefire

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin stated at the start of a meeting with US President Donald Trump's special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner that Russia has not attacked Kyiv since midnight on September 5, and that no agreement was reached on a broader three-day ceasefire. Putin claimed the request to halt strikes on Kyiv arrived via official intelligence and foreign ministry channels, and he issued the order, with no attacks on Kyiv since midnight. He noted Ukraine significantly reduced strikes on Russian territory, including Moscow, but said Kyiv's call for a broader three-day ceasefire was never agreed upon. Putin pledged to ensure security for the negotiation process and mediators. Witkoff called the conversation one of the best and most memorable moments of his life. During September 5, air raid alerts sounded five times in Kyiv, and two people died in the Bucha district of Kyiv region from a Russian strike.