Russia to halt strikes on Kyiv during US diplomatic talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have agreed to suspend strikes on Kyiv and Moscow for three days, as US diplomatic envoys engage in peace talks between the two nations. During a meeting at the Kremlin, Putin praised US President Donald Trump's efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, though no specific details of a fresh proposal were provided.

The ceasefire was expected to commence at midnight local time, in anticipation of the US envoys' arrival in Kyiv the following day. However, the path to a resolution remains uncertain, as a significant divide persists between Russia and Ukraine regarding the conditions for ending the conflict. Western analysts doubt the feasibility of reaching an agreement on the front line, given the slow pace of Russia's territorial gains.

The war has intensified in recent months, with both sides launching frequent long-range air attacks and the frontline remaining largely static. Nonetheless, the prolonged ceasefire provides a brief window for diplomatic efforts to advance.