Putin Orders Three-Day Pause in Kyiv Strikes as US Envoys Reach Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day halt to strikes against Kyiv as US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrive in Moscow for talks aimed at reviving diplomatic efforts to end the Ukraine war. The move comes after intensified attacks by both Russia and Ukraine and ahead of the US delegation's planned visit to Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Russian forces to suspend strikes against Kyiv for three days, coinciding with the arrival of US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow for talks on the Ukraine war. The Kremlin said the pause would begin at midnight on Saturday and was linked to preparations for the American delegation's visit.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would meet Witkoff and Kushner on Saturday. Russia's state news agency TASS reported the development, while the Kremlin said it would brief journalists following the talks.
The temporary halt comes as Washington attempts to restart diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict, now in its fifth year.
US delegation arrives in Moscow
Witkoff and Kushner reached Moscow on Saturday for discussions with Russian officials. According to people familiar with the visit cited by Reuters, Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev met the two US representatives at the airport.
Dmitriev has previously participated in meetings between US negotiators and Putin and maintained contact with the American side during a break in visits to Russia. He was also involved in negotiations over US waivers related to Russian oil sanctions earlier this year.
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Washington had developed a new concrete proposal intended to end the war, although he did not disclose its details.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the US representatives were expected to travel to Ukraine on Sunday after completing their Moscow visit.
Pause follows intensified attacks
Putin's order comes after a period of heavy long-range attacks by both Russia and Ukraine.
Russian strikes killed five people in Ukraine overnight, according to the report. Zelenskyy said Ukraine would also suspend airstrikes during the US delegation's visit and called on Moscow to follow the same approach.
Dany is a business journalist with Annuity Outlook Magazine, with over 16 years of experience across print, digital, and wires. He covers business, technology, policy, and corporate developments, with a focus on in-depth reporting and analysis. Over the years, he has worked across multiple editorial platforms. Skilled in content creation, editing, proofreading, and overseeing print layouts, his career spans multiple editorial platforms.
