DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Conflict & Security

Russia and Ukraine agree not to strike each other’s capitals during talks with U.S. envoys

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Russia and Ukraine pledged to refrain from striking Moscow and Kyiv during U.S.-backed talks involving Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
  • Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would halt strikes on Kyiv for three days, while President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine would avoid attacks on Moscow through Monday.
  • The envoys’ planned visit to Kyiv represents Washington’s latest effort to overcome a diplomatic stalemate, although fighting and negotiations remain active.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed not to strike each other’s capitals while U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner pursue talks aimed at ending more than four years of war. The arrangement came as the two officials travelled to Moscow and prepared for an expected visit to Kyiv.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered a suspension of strikes on Kyiv for three days beginning at midnight. Zelensky later said Ukraine would also refrain from striking Moscow from Saturday through Sunday and Monday.

The Russian president, the commander-in-chief, has given the order from midnight tonight not to strike Kyiv for three days.

· Dmitry PeskovThe Kremlin spokesman announced Russia’s temporary halt to strikes on Kyiv.

“The Russian president, the commander-in-chief, has given the order from midnight tonight not to strike Kyiv for three days,” Peskov said. Zelensky said he had spoken with the U.S. envoys and that they had “already begun working with the Russian side today.”

The Ukrainian president accused Russia of trying to disrupt the visit with overnight strikes on Kyiv’s two airports and an attack on a civilian target in the Dnipro region that killed five people. “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,” he said.

From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow.

· Volodymyr ZelenskyThe Ukrainian president pledged that Kyiv would not attack Moscow during the talks.

Witkoff and Kushner were expected to visit Kyiv on Sunday, in what would be their first trip there since Donald Trump returned to the White House with a pledge to resolve the conflict. Travelling by plane would be unusual because Ukrainian airspace has remained closed since 2022. Visiting officials have generally arrived by train.

Trump said the envoys would assess whether peace could be achieved. The talks have stalled as Moscow and Kyiv continue fighting, while Washington’s conflict with Iran has also affected the peace effort.

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.

· Volodymyr ZelenskyZelensky accused Russia of seeking to disrupt the envoys’ planned visit to Kyiv.
About this summary

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog