Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to a temporary pause on strikes targeting each other’s capitals. The breakthrough coincided with U.S. presidential envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arriving in Moscow on Saturday to revive stalled peace efforts.
U.S. Envoys Arrive in Moscow for Peace Push
The diplomatic push marks the first time Witkoff and Kushner have traveled to Ukraine since President Donald Trump returned to office with a pledge to resolve the conflict. Trump told reporters on Friday that he had dispatched the two negotiators with a specific proposal.
“We have an idea for peace,” Trump said on Friday. “I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They’ve done a great job, and we sent them over to see whether or not we can get something done. And there may be a good chance that we’ll do it.”
Kremlin Meetings and the Capital Ceasefire
Upon touching down at Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow on Saturday, the U.S. delegation was greeted by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev shared photographs of the arrival with the caption, “Welcome to Moscow Peacemakers.”
At the start of the Senate Palace meetings in the Kremlin, Putin asked Kushner and Witkoff to pass along his warm wishes and gratitude to Trump. He also characterized the situation in Ukraine as “not simple.”
Coinciding with the high-level talks, both nations implemented a temporary halt to aerial strikes on their respective capital cities. Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s Tass news agency that Putin ordered a three-day halt to strikes against Kyiv starting at midnight on Saturday. The pause was timed to align with the U.S. delegation’s planned visit to the Ukrainian capital on Sunday.
Zelenskyy Confirms Ukrainian Reciprocity
President Zelenskyy confirmed in a social media statement on Saturday afternoon that he spoke with the U.S. delegation after their arrival in Moscow. He outlined Ukraine’s reciprocity.
“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,” Zelenskyy said.
An Intensifying Air War Along the Front Line
The renewed diplomatic engagement comes against the backdrop of an intensifying air war along the 1,250-kilometer front line. Long-range missile and drone attacks have strained both economies and urban centers.
Peace negotiations had previously lost momentum as U.S. attention focused on the war in Iran over the past six months. Prior to the latest visit, Witkoff and Kushner had met with Putin at the Kremlin in December 2025 for five-hour discussions that failed to yield a breakthrough.
Airport Strikes and Upcoming Kyiv Talks
Hours before Trump’s announcement regarding the new peace proposal, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv. Zelenskyy also reported overnight strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil international airports, linking the attacks to preparations for the U.S. delegation’s travel.
“Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine would adjust operations regarding airspace next week while maintaining that diplomacy faces no threats from the Ukrainian side.
Simultaneously, separate Russian attacks killed five people and wounded five others at an industrial facility in Ukraine’s southern Dnipropetrovsk region, local officials reported.
The U.S. envoys are scheduled to continue their diplomatic mission with a visit to Kyiv on Sunday.
