Key facts
- Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day ceasefire on strikes targeting Kyiv.
- The ceasefire began at midnight on Saturday.
- U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are in Moscow for diplomatic talks.
- The envoys are expected to travel to Kyiv on Sunday.
- Kyiv had previously proposed a ceasefire ahead of the diplomatic meetings.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day halt to strikes on Kyiv, beginning at midnight Saturday, to facilitate diplomatic talks. U.S. special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow on Saturday, with plans to travel to the Ukrainian capital on Sunday.
Moscow press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed the order, stating it was in preparation for American contacts in Kyiv. Kyiv had previously proposed a ceasefire ahead of the diplomatic discussions. The pause in attacks comes after a significant Russian overnight assault across Ukraine that resulted in at least five deaths and six injuries, according to The Kyiv Independent.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky suggested the Russian strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil were a direct response to the impending arrival of the U.S. delegation. Witkoff and Kushner are scheduled to meet with Putin later on Saturday.