The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has decided this Saturday to interrupt the bombings over Kiev for three days, coinciding with the visit to Moscow of the representatives of the American president, Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are trying to reactivate the negotiating process with a trip that will continue later in the Ukrainian capital.
The spokesman for the Kremlin, Dimitri Peskov, has confirmed the presidential order in statements to the Russian agency Interfax. "Indeed, that information was received. The Supreme Commander-in-Chief, President Vladimir Putin, ordered not to attack Kiev for three days, starting at midnight today," he pointed out, presenting the decision as a symmetrical response to Ukraine's commitment not to attack Moscow while the mission of the American envoys lasts.
Peskov explained that this movement is part of "the preparation and development of the American contacts in Kiev" and confirmed that Kushner and Witkoff will meet with Putin in the Kremlin throughout the day. "Yes. That meeting is scheduled for today," the presidential spokesman indicated.
The meeting was subsequently held at the headquarters of the Russian Presidency. As soon as the meeting began, Putin conveyed his recognition and greetings to the American president Donald Trump. "Evidently the situation is difficult and we must get to work today," the Russian leader stated, according to the transcript released by the Presidency itself.
Regarding the three-day pause in the attacks, Putin specified that the request to stop the bombings over Kiev came through official channels, although he insisted that "Russia has not agreed with Ukraine to a ceasefire lasting more than three days." At the same time, he admitted that Ukraine "has also significantly reduced attacks against the territory of the Russian Federation, including Moscow."
Confidence in the mediators
The Russian leader emphasized that Moscow "will do everything possible to ensure the safety of the talks and of the mediators Witkoff and Kushner." He also highlighted the relevance of the "quality" of the mediation and of the "trust" in those participating in it. "I want to tell you that we are comfortable working with you and that the level of trust in this process on our part is quite high," Putin added.
Witkoff has responded with words of gratitude both for the welcome and for the temporary truce. "I want to thank you, the Russian Federation, for agreeing to a three-day ceasefire so that there are no attacks on Kiev or Moscow and that we have been able to fly safely here," the U.S. envoy stated during the meeting.
Witkoff himself also recounted the conversation held just before the meeting. "Right now we were sitting outside, me, Jared, Kiril, and Yuri, and we were talking about how when we retire we will have all these incredible stories and memories and yours will be at the top," he highlighted.
The Russian Presidency has released a video of the meeting in which the presence of presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov and Kiril Dmitriev, the president's representative for Investments and Economic Cooperation with Foreign Countries and director of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is also noted.
The Kremlin spokesperson has also confirmed, albeit indirectly, that the next stage of Witkoff and Kushner's trip will be Kiev. When asked why the first stop is Moscow and then the Ukrainian capital, Peskov limited himself to responding that "it is a matter for the negotiators in Washington."
Meanwhile, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, denounced this Saturday new Russian attacks against the airport in Kiev and Borispol, which he interpreted as attempts by Moscow to torpedo the diplomatic route just as the arrival of U.S. envoys is expected to try to boost peace talks.
This Saturday, Witkoff and Kushner landed in Moscow, where they are scheduled to hold their meeting with Putin. The president of the United States, Donald Trump, had already indicated that his envoys would present a proposal to Russia to end the war in Ukraine during this tour, from which he hopes for tangible progress in dialogue between the parties.