Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv, the Kremlin said Saturday, with Ukraine saying it would reciprocate by refraining from attacks on Moscow as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived for talks aimed at reviving stalled efforts to end the war.
“Putin has ordered that no strikes be carried out against Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight today,” presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russia’s Tass news agency. He said the decision was tied to preparations for Witkoff and Kushner’s planned visit to the Ukrainian capital, which Kyiv has said will take place on Sunday.
Peskov also confirmed that Kushner and Witkoff would meet Putin during their visit, but said there was “no talk of new ideas” to end the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said later Saturday that he had spoken with the US envoys and that Kyiv was prepared to reciprocate by halting strikes on Moscow while the diplomatic talks were underway.
“From the moment of this conversation, we are ready to observe a ceasefire in airstrikes against the cities involved in the negotiation process,” Zelensky wrote on X. “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.”
