Moscow, Sept 2026 : Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day suspension of strikes against Kyiv as Moscow prepares for high-level discussions with US President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday.
The announcement came as Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow for talks with Putin, signalling another diplomatic effort aimed at addressing the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. The US representatives landed at Moscow’s Vnukovo Airport at 12:52 p.m. local time, or 0952 GMT, and were received by Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s Special Presidential Envoy for Investment and Economic Cooperation.
Peskov confirmed that a meeting between Putin and the US negotiators would take place, although he did not disclose details about the agenda or the duration of the discussions. He said similar meetings involving Putin had generally been lengthy and urged journalists and observers to wait for the outcome rather than speculate about possible settlement proposals.
“The meeting with President Putin will indeed take place, and there will be talks,” Peskov told reporters. “As a rule, such meetings have been quite lengthy in the past. Let us wait and see. We will certainly keep you informed.”
The Kremlin statement followed comments from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said Russian forces had carried out overnight strikes targeting airports in Kyiv and the southeastern suburb of Boryspil.
Zelensky suggested that the attacks could have been linked to preparations for a possible visit by US officials to Ukraine. He said Russia’s strikes appeared to be a response to discussions about the possibility of an American aircraft travelling to Ukraine and landing at either Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport.
“Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
He added that Kyiv had taken note of the Russian actions and would adjust its operations next week, particularly in relation to Russian airspace.
The latest diplomatic developments come amid renewed efforts to explore a possible settlement to the war. Zelensky had said on Thursday that he expected to meet Trump’s representatives in Kyiv in the coming days, potentially opening another channel for discussions between Washington and the Ukrainian leadership.
However, tensions remained high despite the diplomatic activity. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday condemned a Russian strike on the headquarters of the Security Service of Ukraine as a “major escalation” requiring a strong response.
Sybiha argued that the attack demonstrated what he described as Moscow’s unwillingness to pursue genuine diplomacy at a time when efforts were underway to revive peace negotiations. He urged Ukraine’s international partners to condemn the strike and increase pressure on Russia.
The reported three-day pause ordered by Putin could provide a temporary window for diplomatic engagement, although its broader implications for the conflict and ongoing negotiations remain uncertain.
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