Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with United States President Donald Trump’s envoys in Moscow as fresh diplomatic efforts to end the war in Ukraine get underway.
Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in the Russian capital on Saturday for talks with Putin before travelling to Ukraine as part of efforts to present a possible peace proposal.
The meeting marks the first face-to-face discussions between the Russian leader and the US delegation in months, with both sides exploring a possible path towards ending the conflict.
Ahead of the talks, Putin ordered Russian forces to pause strikes on Kyiv for three days, beginning at midnight, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
Peskov said the decision was linked to the planned movement and meetings of American officials in Ukraine.
“Russian president and supreme commander-in-chief Putin issued an order to hold off on strikes on Kyiv for three days,” Peskov said.
The temporary halt, however, came amid reports of continued Russian attacks in other parts of Ukraine.
Overnight, Russian forces reportedly carried out strikes on two metal plants in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, killing at least four people and injuring others.
Kyiv also came under attack, with missiles hitting parts of the region, including a nine-storey residential building in Boryspil where two women reportedly suffered injuries.
The attacks raised fresh questions over Moscow’s commitment to the peace process, with Ukrainian officials accusing Russia of undermining diplomatic efforts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian strikes on two Kyiv airports appeared to be aimed at preventing the arrival of the US envoys.
He said Ukraine was concerned about the safety of the American delegation and would ensure their safe passage.
Meanwhile, Putin said earlier this week that there were chances of reaching a peace agreement but maintained his position on territorial issues that have remained a major obstacle in previous negotiations.
Trump had said his envoys were travelling with a proposal aimed at ending the war, which has continued since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The talks come as Kyiv and Moscow remain far apart over key issues, including control of occupied territories, security guarantees and the terms of any possible ceasefire.
