Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a temporary suspension of attacks on Kyiv as United States President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow for high-level discussions on ending the war in Ukraine.
The development comes as Washington intensifies diplomatic efforts to broker a possible settlement between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin directed Russian forces to refrain from carrying out strikes on Kyiv for three days from midnight, linking the decision to the planned movement and activities of the US delegation.
The temporary pause, however, has not resulted in a broader halt to hostilities across Ukraine.
Reports indicated that Russian forces continued attacks in other regions, including Dnipropetrovsk, where two metal plants were reportedly struck overnight, killing at least four people and injuring others.
A nine-storey residential building in Boryspil, in the Kyiv region, was also reportedly hit, leaving two women injured.
The contrasting developments have placed renewed attention on the fragile diplomatic efforts being led by the Trump administration.
Witkoff and Kushner’s meeting with Putin represents a significant step in Washington’s latest attempt to find common ground between Moscow and Kyiv. The pair are expected to proceed to Ukraine after their Moscow engagement as discussions continue over a possible peace proposal.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed concern over attacks on airports in the Kyiv region, suggesting that the strikes may have been aimed at disrupting the arrival of the American representatives.
Zelensky said Ukraine was concerned about the safety of the US delegation but pledged that authorities would take steps to ensure their secure movement.
Territorial control remains one of the most difficult issues in the negotiations, with Putin previously indicating that Moscow was open to the possibility of a peace agreement while maintaining its position on disputed territories.
