U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meet with Putin in Russia again, ahead of their first-ever visit to Ukraine during peace effort

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Saturday for discussions aimed at reviving efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The meeting occurred as both nations escalated aerial attacks, and both leaders agreed to a temporary ceasefire on their respective capitals during the talks.

The U.S. delegation's visit to Russia comes after a six-month hiatus, during which their attention was primarily focused on the Iran conflict. Witkoff and Kushner last met Putin in January, when they visited Moscow and held talks with the Russian leader.

During the meeting, Putin informed Witkoff and Kushner about his gratitude to President Donald Trump and described the situation in Ukraine as "not simple." The Russian president ordered a cessation of strikes on Kyiv for three days, starting at midnight. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also agreed to halt strikes on Moscow until Monday, and he communicated this intention to the U.S. delegation following their arrival in Moscow.

The U.S. envoys' first trip to Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, is scheduled for Sunday, according to Ukrainian officials. Upon their arrival in Moscow, the U.S. delegation was greeted by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who shared photos of them disembarking with a message welcoming the "Peacemakers" to Moscow.

The peace process has been stagnant, and Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities, taking advantage of the country's limited air defense systems. On Friday, a Russian drone struck the Ukrainian Security Service headquarters in Kyiv, while ongoing bombardments have targeted Ukrainian military facilities, oil refineries, and e-commerce hubs. Zelenskyy has linked the increased air war to the planned U.S. visit, warning that Russia could adjust its operations in response.