Russia’s Putin meets US envoys to discuss Trump proposal to end Ukraine war

What the report says

Russian President Vladimir Putin met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow on Saturday to discuss a Trump-backed proposal aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, according to Al Jazeera. The visit comes ahead of an expected stop in Kyiv on Sunday, as Washington tries to restart negotiations on the conflict that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Al Jazeera reported that both Russia and Ukraine said they would avoid striking each other’s capitals for three days during the talks. The Kremlin said Putin ordered a pause on attacks on Kyiv from midnight on Saturday, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would hold off on strikes on Moscow through Monday. Russian officials said they wanted to ensure the safety of the US delegation.

The article said Trump described the envoys as carrying a proposal to end the war. Putin told the visitors to pass on his greetings to Trump, and Witkoff relayed Trump’s best wishes in return. The discussion comes amid continued fighting, with Al Jazeera noting that Russian strikes on Ukraine on Saturday killed at least seven people, including in areas near Kyiv.

The broader significance is that the talks represent another US effort to revive diplomacy in a war that has dragged on for more than four years. Al Jazeera also noted that Putin has repeatedly said Moscow intends to seize the rest of eastern Ukraine, underscoring how far apart the sides remain despite the temporary restraint on attacks.