Putin orders 3-day halt to Kyiv strikes as Witkoff, Kushner arrive in Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day pause in strikes on Kyiv, beginning Saturday.

As US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for talks focused on reviving diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin was scheduled to meet the two US envoys on Saturday, according to Russian news agencies. Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow for discussions with Russian officials, two people familiar with the visit told Reuters.

Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev received the US delegation after its arrival. A motorcade carrying Witkoff, Kushner and Dmitriev later left the government airport for central Moscow.

Dmitriev has previously taken part in meetings between Putin and US representatives and has maintained communication with American negotiators.

The visit follows US President Donald Trump’s announcement that Washington had developed a new proposal aimed at bringing the Russia-Ukraine war to an end. Trump said on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner had been sent to explore whether the latest diplomatic initiative could produce a breakthrough.

“We have an idea for peace,” Trump said, adding that the two envoys would assess whether an agreement could be reached.

ZELENSKYY CALLS FOR RECIPROCAL PAUSE

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had called for a temporary halt to air attacks while the US delegation conducts its diplomatic meetings. He said the envoys were expected to travel to Ukraine following their discussions in Moscow.

Zelenskyy said Kyiv would ensure safe conditions for the American representatives, pointing to Ukraine’s previous approach during diplomatic visits by US officials.

“We are looking out for them, not for Russia,” Zelenskyy said, urging Moscow to suspend its own air attacks for the duration required for the talks and related logistical arrangements.

Putin’s decision to pause strikes on Kyiv now coincides with the US delegation’s visit, potentially creating a limited window for renewed diplomatic engagement.

DIPLOMACY AMID ESCALATING ATTACKS

The latest peace initiative comes as fighting and long-range strikes continue across Ukraine and Russia.

On Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv, one of the most significant targets hit in the capital during the conflict. Zelenskyy subsequently warned that Ukraine would respond.

Russian attacks in other parts of Ukraine reportedly killed four people overnight in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while additional casualties were reported in the Kyiv and Mykolaiv regions.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 167 attack drones overnight, including Shahed- and Geran-type drones, as well as decoys and ballistic missiles. Ukrainian air defences said they had intercepted or suppressed 128 drones.

Russia, meanwhile, reported that its forces had destroyed 53 Ukrainian drones. Russian officials also reported injuries following attacks in the Belgorod border region.

KEY ISSUES IN THE PEACE PROCESS

The diplomatic effort comes after previous negotiations failed to produce a lasting breakthrough. Moscow continues to demand that Kyiv give up territory in four regions claimed by Russia and abandon its ambitions of joining NATO. The Kremlin has described its position on these issues as firm.

At the same time, both countries have stepped up long-range attacks against military and strategic targets deep inside each other’s territory.

The meetings between Putin, Witkoff and Kushner could therefore be an important test for the latest US peace initiative. Their subsequent engagement with Ukrainian officials is expected to determine whether the two sides can narrow their differences and establish the basis for substantive negotiations.

For now, the three-day pause in strikes offers a brief opportunity for diplomacy amid an otherwise intensifying conflict.