On Saturday, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky agreed to a halt in aerial assaults on each other's capitals for a period of three days. This ceasefire coincides with the arrival of President Donald Trump's envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in Moscow, aiming to revive stalled peace talks concerning Ukraine.
According to a report by the Associated Press (AP), Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Putin has instructed, starting from midnight, a three-day cessation of attacks on Kyiv, linking this initiative to the "preparations for the American envoys' contacts in Kyiv."
Zelensky echoed this sentiment through a parallel announcement on social media, stating, "From this moment, we are prepared to uphold a ceasefire on aerial attacks involving cities engaged in negotiation processes."
The Ukrainian leader clarified that this commitment spans "from now until the end of Saturday, as well as throughout Sunday and Monday," during which Ukraine will refrain from attacking Moscow, anticipating a reciprocal gesture from Russia regarding Kyiv.
The aircraft carrying the envoys landed at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport at 12:52 local time, entering Russian airspace from Finland, where they were welcomed by Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin's emissary for economic cooperation with the United States.
The meeting took place in the Grand Kremlin Palace, where Putin greeted his guests in English with, "Welcome. Nice to meet you," acknowledging that "the situation we are about to address is not, of course, simple."
Hours before Putin announced the ceasefire, Zelensky condemned deliberate Russian bombings targeting the airports in Kyiv and Boryspil, describing them as "a response to the talks and preparations ahead of the possibility of the American side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine."
This pause presents the opportunity for Witkoff and Kushner's plane to land directly at one of these airports, a significant move considering Ukrainian airspace has been closed to civilian aviation since February 24, 2022.
Zelensky assured "complete resolve and effectiveness" in discussions with Trump's envoys, who plan to visit Kyiv on Sunday, marking the first visit by representatives of the current U.S. administration to the Ukrainian capital since Trump began his second term.
Negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv have been at a standstill since February 2026, when the U.S. and Israel launched military operations against Iran. Both Russia and Washington view the agreements reached during the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska in August 2025 as outdated, where Moscow reportedly offered to freeze the southern front in exchange for Ukraine ceding Donbas.
This weekend's mission comes less than two weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe's surprise visit to Moscow, interpreted as a preparatory step for this Washington-driven diplomatic relaunch.
Trump announced that his envoys "carry a proposal to end the war," while Putin acknowledged that the American president "will not cease efforts to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian conflict," although he admitted that a "tough road lies ahead."
For the moment, Putin has turned down both a prolonged ceasefire and a tripartite summit with the United States and Ukraine, unless it's to sign a definitive peace agreement. This underscores the narrow pathway available to U.S. mediators.
Key Questions About the Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire and Negotiations
What is the significance of the three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine?
The three-day ceasefire is significant as it provides a temporary pause in hostilities, allowing for diplomatic efforts led by U.S. envoys to potentially revive peace talks between the two nations.
Who are the key figures involved in the negotiations?
Key figures include Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, representing President Donald Trump.
What are the potential outcomes of the negotiations?
The potential outcomes could include a renewed peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine or, at the very least, a framework for future discussions aimed at resolving ongoing conflicts.