Russian President Vladimir Putin began discussions with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin as part of renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine agreed to suspend attacks on each other’s capitals for three days during the negotiations. The talks come as the war continues to cause civilian casualties, with recent attacks killing at least seven people in Kyiv suburbs.
US President Donald Trump earlier said his son-in-law Kushner and business ally Witkoff were bringing a proposal to end the war, according to RTE. Putin welcomed the envoys in a grand Kremlin hall and asked them to pass along greetings to President Trump. The war, which began in 2022, has led to hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions displaced.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow would not strike Kyiv from midnight during the ceasefire period. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also promised to halt strikes on Moscow for three days, starting immediately. Zelensky said he had spoken with the US envoys and expected them to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday.
Russian strikes on Kyiv’s airports reportedly aimed to disrupt the visit of the American delegation. The envoys are expected in Kyiv by Sunday, marking their first trip there since Trump returned to office. This will be the first time Kushner and Witkoff travel to Kyiv by plane, a rare move since Ukrainian airspace has been closed since 2022.
Trump said the envoys would assess whether progress toward peace was possible. Peace efforts have stalled in part due to US tensions with Iran, while both Russia and Ukraine have increased long-range attacks. Trump described Witkoff and Kushner as skilled negotiators who had done a good job in past efforts.
The visit follows a recent trip by CIA director John Ratcliffe to Moscow. Just hours before Trump’s announcement, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in Kyiv. The attack was the first on the SBU headquarters since Russia began its offensive.
Overnight, Russian forces hit the southeastern city of Kamianske, killing five people and injuring others. Kremlin spokesman Peskov confirmed that Kyiv would also stop attacks for three days during the negotiations, according to a report from union-bulletin.com. People close to both Moscow and Kyiv are skeptical about whether meaningful progress can be made.
Analysts are divided on what the visit can achieve, with some saying it could be a long process. Putin also marked Moscow’s City Day on Saturday before the talks began. Zelensky said Ukraine was ready to observe a ceasefire in airstrikes against cities involved in the negotiations.
The visit comes amid ongoing disagreements between Kyiv and Moscow over occupied territories, security guarantees, and ceasefire terms, pmnewsnigeria.com reported. Putin had earlier said there was a chance of reaching peace but maintained his stance on territorial issues. Trump’s envoys were said to be carrying a proposal aimed at ending the war, which has continued since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russian strikes on Dnipropetrovsk region killed at least four people, and Kyiv also came under attack. Ukrainian officials accused Russia of trying to undermine diplomatic efforts by attacking the airports. Zelensky said he was concerned for the safety of the American delegation and promised their safe passage.
IMAGE: kremlin.ru / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
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