Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Saturday as Washington renewed efforts to end the war in Ukraine.
The meeting took place at the Kremlin as the conflict entered another intense phase, with Russian and Ukrainian forces continuing long-range missile and drone attacks.
US President Donald Trump has described the visit as an attempt to determine whether a path toward peace can be found.
Trump said Kushner and Witkoff were carrying a proposal aimed at ending the war, which has continued since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Welcoming the US envoys at the Kremlin, Putin acknowledged the difficult situation and asked them to convey his greetings and thanks to Trump.
The talks are taking place ahead of the envoys’ expected visit to Kyiv on Sunday.
Russia and Ukraine Agree to Temporary Restraint
As the diplomatic effort began, Russia and Ukraine separately agreed to avoid strikes on each other’s capitals for three days.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin had ordered Russian forces not to attack Kyiv from midnight Saturday for three days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also announced that Ukraine would refrain from strikes on Moscow through Monday.
Zelensky said he had spoken with the US envoys and expected them to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday.
The temporary restraint could provide a limited window for diplomatic discussions while reducing the immediate risk of attacks on the two capitals.
However, the broader conflict remains active, with fighting and strikes continuing across Ukraine.
Russian Strikes Kill At Least Seven
The diplomatic developments came as Russian attacks killed at least seven people in Ukraine on Saturday, according to Ukrainian officials.
Two people were reportedly killed in Bucha district outside Kyiv.
Earlier, Russian strikes targeted areas around Kyiv and civilian locations in the Dnipro region.
Zelensky accused Russia of attempting to disrupt preparations for the US delegation’s visit by attacking Kyiv’s airports.
He said Russian attacks on the airports appeared connected to preparations for the possibility of the US delegation travelling to Ukraine by air.
Travelling by plane would be unusual because Ukrainian airspace has remained closed since the start of the war. Foreign officials visiting Ukraine have generally travelled by train.
A Russian drone also struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv shortly before Trump’s announcement about the diplomatic mission.
Zelensky said the strike targeted the office of the agency’s acting chief.
Trump Seeks a Path Toward Peace
Trump said he had sent Witkoff and Kushner to determine whether meaningful progress toward a settlement was possible.
The US president described both men as strong negotiators and said there was a possibility of achieving a deal.
Trump did not reveal whether the proposal includes Ukrainian territorial concessions, an issue that has remained one of the most difficult points in negotiations.
He said only that the United States had an idea for peace.
Witkoff and Kushner have previously participated in diplomatic efforts involving conflicts in the Middle East, including negotiations concerning Gaza and Iran.
Both have also travelled to Moscow during earlier attempts to advance discussions between Washington and the Kremlin.
Ukraine War Enters Another Critical Phase
The renewed diplomatic effort comes as attacks between Russia and Ukraine have intensified.
Both sides have increasingly relied on long-range missiles and drones, causing growing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.
Russia has repeatedly stated that it intends to secure control over remaining parts of eastern Ukraine, while Kyiv continues to reject territorial concessions and seeks security guarantees.
Peace efforts have also faced additional complications from wider geopolitical tensions, including the US confrontation with Iran.
The expected Kyiv visit by Witkoff and Kushner could provide an important indication of whether Washington’s latest peace initiative has enough momentum to bring Moscow and Kyiv closer to negotiations.
For now, the temporary agreement to avoid strikes on Moscow and Kyiv offers only a brief pause. The wider war remains unresolved, and major differences over territory, security guarantees and the future of Ukraine continue to stand between the two sides.
