Putin Orders 72-Hour Pause in Strikes on Kyiv as US Envoys Pursue Ukraine Peace Talks

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 72-hour suspension of strikes on Kyiv, coinciding with a visit by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow as Washington seeks to revive stalled efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The Kremlin said the pause would begin at midnight and would coincide with the presence of the U.S. delegation in the region. The development came as Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow for talks aimed at advancing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

The temporary halt follows a period of intensified fighting, including continued Russian drone and missile attacks across Ukraine. A Russian drone strike on the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service in Kyiv on Friday injured 12 people, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy has also indicated that Ukraine is prepared to suspend its own airstrikes during the U.S. envoys’ visit, creating a limited window for diplomatic engagement amid the ongoing hostilities. However, attacks have continued elsewhere, underscoring the difficulty of achieving a broader ceasefire.

The U.S. delegation’s mission represents another attempt by the Trump administration to break the deadlock in negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv. Previous rounds of U.S.-brokered discussions have produced some progress but failed to resolve fundamental disagreements over territory, security guarantees and the terms of a potential peace settlement.

The latest diplomatic initiative comes as the war enters its fifth year and both sides continue to carry out attacks against military and strategic targets. Ukrainian forces have intensified drone strikes inside Russia, while Moscow has maintained extensive aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Despite the announcement of the temporary pause, significant obstacles remain. Moscow and Kyiv continue to differ sharply over the conditions for ending the war, while the recent escalation in attacks highlights the fragile nature of any ceasefire arrangement.

The visit by Witkoff and Kushner, together with the temporary suspension of strikes, could provide an opportunity for renewed dialogue, but whether it can lead to substantive progress toward a lasting peace agreement remains uncertain.