Envoys Arrive in Moscow
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner landed in Moscow on Saturday, aiming to revive negotiations to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine. They were met at the airport by Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev, a key contact for the Trump administration's peace efforts. Axios reported they were expected to meet President Vladimir Putin later that day.[S1]
The visit follows President Trump's Friday announcement of a new proposal to end the war, though he provided no details. Trump has made ending the conflict a priority in his second term, but progress has been limited so far.[S1]
Pauses and Strikes
Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would refrain from aerial attacks while the American officials were in the country and urged Russia to reciprocate. Peskov confirmed that Putin had instructed a three-day halt of strikes on Kyiv. Yet, significant obstacles persist: Russia demands that Ukraine surrender four regions and abandon NATO membership, terms that Kyiv rejects outright.[S1]
Despite the pause, recent weeks have seen intensified aerial attacks. On Friday, a Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's Security Service, and Zelenskyy vowed retaliation. Russia also struck a shopping center in the Mykolaiv region, injuring two, and a factory in the Dnipropetrovsk region, killing five workers.[S1]
Ongoing Conflict
The diplomats were scheduled to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday, marking their inaugural visit to the capital. They had previously traveled to Moscow, with their most recent trip occurring in January. The war has reached a standstill along the 775-mile front, with both sides conducting long-range bombardments against infrastructure and military assets.[S1]
Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries, causing fuel shortages, while Russia has bombarded Ukrainian cities, straining air defenses. Zelenskyy accused Russia of striking Kyiv's airports to disrupt the envoys' visit, as officials typically travel by train due to closed airspace.[S1]
