Russian President Vladimir Putin met U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin as Washington seeks to revive stalled efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting lasted more than three hours and focused on efforts to restart negotiations. Putin asked the U.S. representatives to convey his warm wishes and gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump, while acknowledging that the situation in Ukraine remains difficult.
As the talks continued, both sides agreed to temporarily halt strikes on their respective capitals. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “(Russian President Vladimir) Putin has ordered that no strikes be carried out against Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight today,”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was also prepared to stop strikes on Moscow through Monday, adding, “From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv,”
Witkoff and Kushner are also scheduled to visit Kyiv on Sunday, marking their first trip to the Ukrainian capital during the peace process.
The talks come amid intensified aerial attacks and growing pressure on both sides to revive diplomatic efforts that have remained stalled.
