Russia and the United States have taken a rare diplomatic step toward restarting Ukraine peace negotiations, with Russian President Vladimir Putin meeting US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow. The talks come as Washington tests whether meaningful progress toward ending the four‑year Russia–Ukraine war is possible.
The meeting precedes the envoys’ first planned visit to Kyiv, expected on Sunday — a significant move given that Ukrainian airspace has been closed to civilian flights since Russia’s February 2022 invasion. Ukrainian officials said the delegation may arrive via US military aircraft, an unusual exception normally reserved for heads of state.
In Moscow, Putin acknowledged the gravity of the moment, telling the envoys that “the situation is, of course, not simple.” He asked them to convey his “best wishes and words of gratitude” to President Donald Trump, who earlier said he was assessing whether a settlement was achievable.
In a surprising development, Moscow and Kyiv separately agreed to pause strikes on each other’s capitals for three days while diplomatic efforts unfold. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin ordered Russian forces to halt attacks on Kyiv from midnight Saturday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded by announcing that Ukraine would refrain from strikes on Moscow through Monday.
The temporary halt comes amid escalating long‑range attacks by both sides, raising hopes that diplomacy may gain traction. Witkoff and Kushner’s visit signals the Trump administration’s intent to directly engage both capitals in pursuit of a negotiated end to the conflict.