Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has announced that a new bridge on the border with North Korea is set to boost cooperation, highlighting that relations between the two countries are at an “unprecedentedly high level.” At the same time, the Kremlin has ordered a halt to strikes on Kiev for three days, starting at midnight on September 5 and continuing through September 8.
This ceasefire comes on the heels of intense fighting, with reports indicating that Ukrainian forces have suffered the loss of nearly 9,700 troops over the last week. Russian security forces have claimed to tighten their grip on Ukrainian positions in Volchansk, destroying over 20 pieces of enemy equipment during attempts to break through.
Moscow has also confirmed that they targeted a production and loading complex in the Ukrainian port of Izmail, which is used for unloading Western military cargo. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has underscored that the approaching winter and a significant budget deficit are among Ukraine's major challenges, including a serious shortfall in defense industry and army funding.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has reiterated that Russia will not enter agreements that do not balance interests, pointing out that the country has been “cheated many times throughout its history.” He further accused the West of trying to disrupt elections and seize Russian assets.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) declaration addressed nuclear disarmament and expressed “deep concern over developments in the Middle East, ” supporting a diplomatic resolution, though it did not mention the Ukraine conflict. Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov suggested that a trilateral meeting between the leaders of Russia, China, and the United States could be on the horizon, a format not yet attempted.
US Special Presidential Envoy Witkoff reported “substantive progress” in negotiations on the Ukraine settlement, with plans for more trilateral talks. He described his collaboration with Jared Kushner as focusing on “bringing the parties together, ” narrowing differences, and establishing communication channels, following positive discussions in Moscow and Kiev. Kushner declined to comment on whether the US would increase pressure on Russia, as Donald Trump reportedly considers the conflict in terms of “what the best outcome could be.”
