Russia, Ukraine halt strikes during Trump envoys’ visit

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day hiatus in strikes on Kyiv ahead of talks with senior U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who arrived in Moscow earlier on Saturday, RT reported, citing the Kremlin.

The negotiations are expected to focus on resolving the Ukraine conflict. Witkoff and Kushner are slated to visit Kyiv after their meetings in Moscow, which include talks with Putin.

The Ukrainian side had also earlier announced that it would halt airstrikes during the visit of the U.S. representatives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukraine would not strike targets in Russia while Witkoff and Kushner were in Moscow, in order to ensure their safe arrival. He also called on Russia to do the same during the U.S. negotiators’ visit to Kyiv.

Earlier, the U.S. side had asked Russia and Ukraine to temporarily halt strikes on Kyiv and Moscow, respectively, during Witkoff and Kushner’s visits.