Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with United States President Donald Trump’s envoys in Moscow as Washington launches a fresh diplomatic push aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump’s representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, arrived in the Russian capital on Saturday for discussions with Putin before their planned trip to Ukraine, where they are expected to advance a possible peace proposal.
The meeting is the first direct engagement between Putin and the US delegation in several months as Washington seeks to identify a possible route towards ending the conflict.
Ahead of the meeting, Putin directed Russian forces to suspend attacks on Kyiv for three days from midnight, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
According to Peskov, the temporary halt was connected to the planned arrival and activities of the 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.
Despite the announcement, reports indicated that Russian attacks continued in other parts of Ukraine.
Russian forces were reported to have struck two metal plants in the Dnipropetrovsk region overnight, leaving at least four people dead and several others injured.
Parts of the Kyiv region were also targeted, with missiles reportedly hitting a nine-storey residential building in Boryspil and injuring two women.
The continued attacks have raised concerns over Russia’s commitment to the latest diplomatic initiative, with Ukrainian officials accusing Moscow of undermining efforts to reach a settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian attacks on two airports in the Kyiv region appeared to have been intended to prevent the US envoys from arriving.
Zelensky said Kyiv was concerned about the safety of the American delegation but assured that Ukraine would take measures to guarantee their safe movement.
Putin had earlier said there was a possibility of reaching a peace agreement, although he maintained his position on territorial matters, one of the most contentious issues in previous negotiations.
Trump previously announced that Witkoff and Kushner were travelling with a proposal intended to bring the war to an end.
Putin meets Trump envoys as fresh Ukraine peace effort begins