Putin orders three-day Kyiv strike pause as US pushes for Russia-Ukraine peace deal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day halt to strikes on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv from Saturday, ahead of a planned visit by a US delegation, Russian news agency Interfax reported, citing Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Putin was scheduled to meet US special representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on Saturday, Peskov told the TASS news agency.

The pause comes as Washington seeks to revive negotiations aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war, with long-range attacks by both sides continuing to intensify.

Zelensky says Russian strikes targeted airports

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that Russia had struck airports in Kyiv and the nearby town of Boryspil before the expected arrival of the US envoys.

"Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the U.S. side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport," he said on the Telegram app.

"Russian-Iranian Shaheds (drones) in response to American diplomacy."

Ukraine has kept its airspace closed since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022. Zelensky said officials had nevertheless discussed the possibility of the US peace negotiators travelling by plane for their expected visit to Kyiv on Sunday.

US envoys push for Russia-Ukraine peace deal

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were travelling abroad in an effort to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

The visit marks Washington's latest attempt to break a diplomatic deadlock in Europe's deadliest conflict since World War II. Peace negotiations have stalled amid the US war with Iran, while Russia and Ukraine have continued launching long-range missile and drone attacks.

The escalation has also pushed civilian casualties to their highest levels since the conflict began, according to the report.

Witkoff, Kushner visit follows Ratcliffe trip

The latest US diplomatic effort comes more than a week after CIA director John Ratcliffe made a rare visit to Moscow. According to US media reports, Ratcliffe warned Russia against attacking NATO member states.

Witkoff and Kushner's talks with Putin are expected to focus on efforts to move the stalled peace process forward as attacks between Russia and Ukraine continue.