US Envoys Meet Putin in Kremlin for Ukraine Peace Talks, Then Head to Kyiv

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner at the Kremlin on Saturday for over three hours of closed-door talks on ending the war in Ukraine, with no breakthroughs announced. The envoys are scheduled to visit Kyiv on Sunday for the first time in the peace process. Putin's adviser Yuri Ushakov called the talks constructive and frank, noting discussions on economic cooperation, while both sides agreed to pause strikes on each other's capitals during the negotiations. The meeting follows a six-month stall in peace efforts as U.S. attention shifted to the Iran war. Russian attacks killed at least 11 civilians across Ukraine on Saturday, including strikes on Kyiv airports and industrial sites, while Ukraine launched 167 drones and ballistic missiles into Russia. Zelenskyy linked the airport strikes to the planned U.S. visit, vowing to adjust operations accordingly.