Russia-Ukraine war: Zelenskyy proposes ceasefire as US sends envoys to discuss peace plan — ‘No airstrikes from our side’ | Today’s news
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed keeping a temporary truce with Russia, while US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow and Kiev at the weekend to negotiate a ceasefire.
“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.
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“American ambassadors will be in Ukraine and Russia”
In his message, Zelenskyy said: “…it is clearly established that American envoys will be in Ukraine and Russia in the coming days.” He confirmed that he had details from the US President’s team.
“Today we discussed that Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Moscow and then Kiev on Sunday. We are preparing for the visit,” said the Ukrainian president.
“No airstrikes from our side”
Zelenskyy said: “As in previous diplomatic visits by the US side, we will ensure the normal functioning of Russian airspace so that the negotiators can arrive safely.”
“We are looking at them, not at Russia. There will be no airstrikes from our side, and Russia must do the same and ensure that there will be no airstrikes from its side for the time needed to conduct these talks and handle logistical issues related to this American visit,” Zelenskyy added.
Real possibilities of ending the Russian-Ukrainian war
Zelenskyy said that the goal is to make the visit and talks with the American side as constructive and substantial as possible. “We need to look for real options to bring this war to an end. We’ll see what proposals Steve and Jared come up with and what they say in Moscow in response.”
What did Trump say?
US President Donald Trump said on Friday, according to AFP, that he is sending envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to Moscow and Kiev with a proposal to end the four-year war in Ukraine.
“They’re bringing with them a proposal to end the war,” Trump told reporters when asked about the weekend trip by his son-in-law Kushner and businessman friend Witkoff.
Asked whether the proposed peace plan might require Ukraine to cede territory, Trump dismissed the idea of a territorial issue, saying his administration would present a “peace idea.”
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“We’re going to have an idea for peace,” Trump said, arguing that the Russia-Ukraine conflict has become particularly difficult because of the relationship between the two leaders.
It will be the first time Kushner and Witkoff have visited war-torn Kiev since Trump returned to office last year promising to end the Ukraine war. Both American envoys have visited Moscow before.
“I sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, two great negotiators. They did a great job, and we sent them to us to see if we can do something or not. And there may be a good chance we will,” he said.
Trump blamed the war, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, on a “personality problem” between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
He said: “In Russia and Ukraine it’s a personality problem. You have President Zelensky and President Putin; they really hate each other.”
“They have serious hatred and stand in their way,” he added.
The Russia-Ukraine war is intensifying
The remarks came as a Russian drone struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s security service in central Kiev, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday ahead of diplomatic talks with US officials on ending the war.
The air war between Russia and Ukraine has intensified as the conflict marks five years since Moscow invaded its neighbor. Russia has recently been using fast-flying jet-powered drones, and the repetitive wail of air raid sirens has become a part of daily life in Kyiv.
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The headquarters of the Ukrainian security service near the historic cathedral of St. Sofia and international hotels are among the agencies carrying out deep strikes on Russian territory. Twelve people were injured in Friday’s attack, local authorities said.
“The drone was deliberately aimed at the head of the SBU office in that building,” Zelenskyy said on Friday.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called Friday’s drone strike a “major escalation” that came as potential peace talks were gaining momentum.
“Moscow launched this strike during renewed peace efforts and revealed its true rejection of diplomacy,” he said in a post on X.
