Putin Meets US Envoys in Kremlin, Calls Ukraine Situation 'Difficult'

Russian President Vladimir Putin met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in the Kremlin on Saturday, opening the talks by describing the situation in Ukraine as "difficult." He acknowledged the efforts of US President Donald Trump to end the conflict, noting that despite the challenges, Trump continues to push for a settlement.

Putin was joined by foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who had received the American visitors at the airport. In a related move, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced that Putin had ordered the military not to strike Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight on Saturday, coinciding with the envoys' planned visit to the Ukrainian capital. Putin also noted a decrease in the intensity of Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory and pledged to ensure the safety of the US negotiators.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed he had spoken with the envoys, who are scheduled to visit Ukraine on Sunday. He added that Ukraine was prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow through Monday.

Despite these diplomatic gestures, a vast gulf remains between the two sides. The Kremlin reiterated on Friday that Putin's terms, which include Ukraine ceding territory in four regions and abandoning its NATO ambitions, are "unshakeable." A source close to the Kremlin indicated that Putin is still focused on securing the remaining parts of the Donetsk region, with the goal of achieving this by the end of the year.

The Russian Defence Ministry reported 53 Ukrainian drones in Russian airspace on Saturday, a figure significantly lower than recent averages, as Moscow celebrated its City Day. Since the last peace talks in February, both sides have intensified long-range air attacks, while front lines have remained largely static. Ukraine's drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have contributed to fuel shortages, while attacks on major warehouses have affected the consumer economy.