Putin orders three-day halt to Kyiv strikes after US envoys arrive

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a three-day halt to attacks on Kyiv following the arrival of US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in Moscow and Kyiv, the Kremlin announced today. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov said the pause began at midnight and is linked to preparations for the envoys' contacts in Kyiv. He confirmed Ukraine informed Moscow that President Volodymyr Zelensky suspended attacks on Russia during the visit, after Washington demanded security guarantees from both sides. Zelensky said the goal is to make the visit and negotiations with the US side as constructive as possible. Putin will receive both mediators today, their first trip to Moscow since January, amid stalled peace talks and recent escalations including Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries and Russian missile attacks on Kyiv.