Putin Meets US Envoys, Confirms Pause in Kyiv Strikes During Talks
Putin met US envoys in Moscow and confirmed he ordered a pause in strikes on Kyiv while negotiations continue.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Saturday, confirming that he had ordered a halt to strikes on Kyiv while talks are underway.
During the meeting, Putin stated, "I gave the appropriate command and from midnight today these strikes on Kyiv have not been carried out." The pause comes amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire.
The Russian leader acknowledged that the Ukrainian authorities had called for a broader three-day ceasefire, but noted this was not something that had been agreed upon with them. However, he pledged that Russia would "do everything in our power to ensure the safety of the negotiation process and the intermediaries."
Putin also referenced the envoys' planned travel to Kyiv following their Moscow visit, remarking that "no matter what happens next, contacts of this kind are certainly always beneficial."
The meeting underscores continued high-level engagement between Washington and Moscow as both sides explore pathways toward de-escalation in the conflict.