Russia rejects Zelensky's air truce call ahead of Trump envoys' visit
Photo: Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov (Getty Images)
Russia’s Defense Ministry acknowledged new attacks on Ukraine on the morning of September 5, effectively rejecting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s call for a temporary halt to airstrikes.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported strikes on several regions of Ukraine.
It also claimed that several military targets had been hit, but, as usual, provided no evidence to support those claims.
The Russian Defense Ministry also claimed that Ukrainian forces launched an overnight air attack on Russian territory.
Russia said its air defenses had allegedly intercepted 53 Ukrainian drones over several regions, but provided no evidence for those claims either.
What is important to understand is that on September 4, Zelenskyy said Ukraine would ensure that Russia’s airspace remained operational on Saturday and Sunday while envoys of US President Donald Trump traveled to Moscow and Kyiv.
“On our side, there will be no airstrikes. And Russia should likewise ensure a period of silence without its airstrikes for as long as necessary to hold these talks and resolve logistical issues related to the US visit,” Zelenskyy said.
Earlier, Trump said that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were taking a proposal to Kyiv and Moscow aimed at ending the war.
It was also reported that expectations for Witkoff and Kushner’s visit to Moscow were pessimistic.
Earlier, we reported why the envoys’ trip to Kyiv had to be postponed.
