Will the war in Ukraine end? After Zelensky, Putin ordered a 72-hour pause in Kyiv strikes | Today’s news
Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a 72-hour suspension of strikes on Kiev as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner travel between Moscow and Kiev in an effort to revive stalled talks aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
The pause in attacks on the Ukrainian capital will begin at midnight, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Russian news agency Tass on Saturday. The announcement came as Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to exchange intensified airstrikes.
“Putin has ordered that for three days, starting at midnight tonight, no strikes will be carried out against Kiev,” Peskov said.
Peskov linked the temporary halt directly to preparations for diplomatic efforts by the American delegation. U.S. envoy Witkoff and Kushner, son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, arrived in Moscow on Saturday as Washington seeks to resume talks on the conflict.
The Kremlin’s announcement followed an appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for Moscow to suspend its own airstrikes while US officials conduct their diplomatic mission.
Zelenskyy said Ukraine would stop airstrikes during the envoys’ visit and called on Russia to reciprocate. Moscow did not publicly respond to the proposal before Putin ordered a 72-hour pause.
