Ukraine declares ‘no airstrikes’ as expected US talks on war: ‘Russia must ensure ceasefire…’ | Today’s news
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a temporary ceasefire in hostilities with Russia as US President Donald Trump’s envoys prepare to travel to Moscow and Kiev this weekend for talks on ending the war. “There will be no airstrikes from our side, and Russia must reciprocally ensure a ceasefire – without its own airstrikes – for the time necessary to conduct these talks,” Zelenskyy said in his evening speech.
US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff are expected to travel to Moscow on Saturday and Kiev on Sunday. Their talks will focus on the possible terms of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Zelenskiy made the ceasefire proposal on Friday, hours after Russia launched an airstrike on the headquarters of Ukraine’s intelligence service earlier in the day. According to the Ukrainian president, the attack was aimed at the office of the head of the country’s intelligence.
Ukraine seeks to end strikes during negotiations
Zelensky confirmed the planned visits in a telegram, saying the details came from the US president’s team.
“The details are from the US President’s team. We discussed today that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow and Kiev on Sunday.”
Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian diplomats were acting before the arrival of American envoys in Kyiv. As part of the arrangement, Ukraine agreed to maintain normal Russian airspace operations to ensure the two officials could travel safely.
Zelenskyy says Kyiv wants “real options” for peace
The Ukrainian president said Kiev’s priority was the safety of visiting US officials rather than Russia, while stressing that Ukraine was looking for a real way to end the conflict.
He said Ukraine wanted a “real possibility” to end the war, which has now lasted four and a half years.
“We’ll see what proposals Steve and Jared have and what Moscow tells them,” Zelensky wrote.
Russia increases daily attacks on Ukraine
Zelensky’s proposal came amid a recent escalation of Russian airstrikes against Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities. Russian forces are increasingly attacking during the day, with civilian areas among those affected.
Before Friday’s attack on Kiev in broad daylight, Russia launched a major attack on the Odesa region overnight. The attack killed one person and injured at least five others, including a child.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, overnight strikes in the Dnieper region killed two police officers.
A US official confirmed earlier on Friday that Kushner and Witkoff would travel to Moscow and Kiev this weekend.
The trip will mark the envoys’ first visit to the Ukrainian capital as part of efforts to negotiate a settlement and end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
(With input from agencies)
