Russia freezes strikes on Kyiv for three days as Trump’s envoys arrive in Moscow

Russian strikes on Kyiv are set to pause for three days just as two senior U.S. envoys arrive in Moscow. The timing links the temporary halt to renewed American-Russian contacts over the war in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin ordered the suspension, which took effect on the day of the announcement, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in remarks cited by the Russian news agency Interfax. Peskov connected the pause with the visit of U.S. special envoys dealing with developments in the war.

Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived in Moscow for talks. Two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that they were expected to meet Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian presidential envoy who has played a central role in contacts between Washington and Moscow.

Dmitriev also told the Russian news agency TASS that Putin was expected to meet Witkoff and Kushner. He said previously that he had maintained contact with American negotiators, including during a period when their visits to Russia had stopped, and had taken part in earlier meetings between the envoys and Putin.

The three-day pause comes as the latest Russian-American contacts focus on finding possible channels for restarting negotiations and ending the conflict.