Russian President Vladimir Putin held a more than three-hour meeting on Saturday with U.S. envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin, aiming to revive stalled efforts to end the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The discussions took place amid continued aerial assaults by both sides, though both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to suspend strikes targeted at each other’s capitals during the talks.
The meeting marked Kushner and Witkoff’s first visit to Moscow since January, when they also met with Putin. Following the Kremlin talks, the U.S. delegation is scheduled to travel to Kyiv on Sunday, where they will engage with Ukrainian officials as part of ongoing peace negotiations.
At the outset of the meeting, Putin conveyed greetings to former President Donald Trump through Kushner and Witkoff and characterized the Ukraine conflict as “not simple.” The war began with Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, leading to sustained military confrontations along a roughly 775-mile front line.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for the Russian president, confirmed that Putin had ordered a three-day pause in missile and drone strikes on Kyiv, starting at midnight Saturday. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Ukraine’s readiness to refrain from attacks on Moscow through Monday, expressing hope that Russia would reciprocate with similar restraint during the ceasefire window.
Despite the temporary pause in attacks on the capitals, Russian forces have increased bombardments in other Ukrainian cities, targeting critical infrastructure amid Kyiv’s limited air defense capacity. On Friday, a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) in Kyiv, one of the agencies involved in conducting deep strikes into Russian territory.
Ukraine has carried out long-range missile and drone strikes hitting Russian military bases, oil refineries, and logistics hubs, aiming to disrupt Russia’s war effort and economic stability. The conflict’s air war has intensified as both sides deploy jet-powered drones and face difficulties securing territorial gains.
Zelensky attributed recent overnight Russian strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil airports to the anticipated U.S. delegation visit, describing the attacks as a reaction to preparations for potential U.S. air travel to Ukraine. He also indicated that Ukraine would adjust its military operations regarding Russian airspace, which has become increasingly dangerous due to drone and missile activity, while emphasizing that such adjustments would not undermine diplomatic efforts.
The conflict continues to exact a toll on civilians. In Ukraine’s southern Dnipropetrovsk region, a Russian missile strike on an industrial facility killed five workers, including a locksmith, electrician, plumber, and machinist, according to Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the local military administration. The attack also wounded five others and damaged homes in the nearby Nikopol district. Russian Defense Ministry statements described strikes on two metallurgical plants in the region as targeting suppliers of metal products for Ukraine’s military.
On the Russian side, Ukrainian attacks on Saturday hit the Belgorod region near the border, killing two people and injuring three others, according to local authorities.
The latest talks come as Washington’s effort to broker peace has encountered challenges amid its focus on the conflict in Iran over recent months. The resumption of dialogue underscores continued U.S. engagement in pursuing diplomatic solutions despite persistent hostilities on the ground.