Putin Holds Crucial Kremlin Talks with U.S. Envoys Amid Renewed Push to End Ukraine War

Moscow, Russia - Russian President Vladimir Putin convened with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Saturday for high-stakes discussions aimed at reviving the faltering peace process to end the protracted war in Ukraine. The closed-door meetings, which extended over three hours, occurred as both nations continued to engage in aerial assaults. In a significant de-escalation, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mutually agreed to a temporary pause on strikes targeting each other's capitals for the duration of the talks.

The diplomatic initiative from Washington has reportedly lost traction in recent months, with U.S. focus largely diverted to the ongoing conflict in Iran. This marks a significant engagement, as the last known visit by Witkoff and Kushner to Moscow for similar discussions with Putin was in January.

A Historic First Trip to Kyiv for American Emissaries

In a significant development, the American emissaries are also scheduled to make their inaugural visit to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, on Sunday as part of the ongoing peace efforts, Ukrainian officials confirmed. Earlier in the Moscow meeting, President Putin conveyed his regards and gratitude to U.S. President Donald Trump through Kushner and Witkoff, characterizing the situation in Ukraine as "not simple." The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces commenced on February 24, 2022.

Presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov informed Russia's Tass news agency that "Putin has ordered that no strikes be carried out against Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight today."

In solidarity, President Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was prepared to cease strikes on Moscow until Monday. He reported a conversation with the U.S. delegation following their arrival in Moscow on Saturday afternoon. "From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv," he declared.

The U.S. envoys were reportedly welcomed at Moscow's airport by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who shared images on social media captioned, "Welcome to Moscow Peacemakers," alongside photos of the delegation's arrival.

Peace Process at a Standstill Amid Escalated Attacks

The peace process has been largely stagnant, even as Russia has intensified its aerial bombardments on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. These relentless attacks exploit Ukraine's limited air defense capabilities. On Friday, a Russian drone struck a critical government building in Kyiv – the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), an agency involved in deep-strike operations within Russian territory.

Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its long-range strikes targeting Russian military installations, oil refineries, and e-commerce hubs, aiming to disrupt the Kremlin's war machinery, cripple its economy, and make the war's impact palpable for ordinary Russian citizens.

Zelenskyy Links Russian Strikes to Emissaries' Visit

The air war has escalated significantly, coinciding with stalled progress on the ground along the 1,250-kilometer (775-mile) front line. Russia has recently deployed fast-flying, jet-powered drones, and the constant air-raid sirens have become a grim reality in Kyiv. President Zelenskyy suggested in a social media post that the overnight strikes on Kyiv and Boryspil international airports were a direct response to the anticipated U.S. visit. "Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine," he stated. He added, "We have taken note of this Russian move, and next week we will adjust our operation accordingly regarding Russian airspace, which has become dangerous because of our drones and missiles in the sky. Of course, there are and will be no threats to diplomacy from our side."

Strikes Claim Lives at Ukrainian Industrial Site

In the Dnipropetrovsk region of southern Ukraine, Russian attacks on an industrial facility resulted in the deaths of five employees and injured five others, according to local military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha. He lamented, "A locksmith, an electrician, a plumber and a machinist. People of peaceful professions. They were simply working their shift. They were doing their job when enemy missiles cut off their lives."

A separate attack in the Nikopol district of the same region wounded a 62-year-old man and damaged several homes and an apartment building. Russia's Ministry of Defense claimed responsibility for strikes on two metallurgical plants in the region, identifying them as "major suppliers of metal products for Ukraine's military production."

In the Kyiv region, two additional individuals were wounded during an overnight Russian assault, reported Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration. In the Boryspil district, a fire ignited by a strike caused partial destruction to a nine-story residential building. Ukraine's state emergency services reported that Russian forces also repeatedly targeted a shopping center in the Mykolaiv region with drones, causing damage to retail spaces and igniting fires. A 72-year-old man and a 17-year-old girl sustained injuries.

Emergency responders faced repeated disruptions due to the threat of further strikes, returning to the scene only when conditions permitted. Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched ballistic missiles from its Rostov and Voronezh regions and deployed 167 attack drones overnight, including Shahed-type aircraft (approximately half of which were jet-powered), Geran, and decoy drones. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted or suppressed 128 of these drones. Conversely, local officials in Russia's border region of Belgorod reported that Ukrainian attacks wounded three people, including a 14-year-old girl. Russia's Defense Ministry stated that its forces had shot down 53 Ukrainian drones overnight.