Putin and Zelensky Order 72-Hour Pause in Strikes on Capitals During US Envoys Visit
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have each ordered a 72-hour pause in strikes on the opposing capital as US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner visit Moscow and prepare to travel to Kyiv with a proposal to end the war.
Ceasefire Pause on Capital Strikes
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a 72-hour pause in strikes on Kyiv from midnight Saturday. [3] Putin stated that Ukraine had also reduced attacks. [3] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine would refrain from striking Moscow from now until the end of Monday. [3] The pause was proposed by Zelensky during the US envoys' visits. [3] The Kremlin said Russia would not strike Kyiv for three days starting from midnight Saturday. [3] Zelensky said Ukraine is prepared to refrain from strikes on Moscow from now until the end of Saturday as well as on Sunday and Monday. [3]
US Envoys' Diplomatic Mission
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Putin in the Kremlin on Saturday. [1] The envoys are expected in Kyiv on Sunday. [3] Putin thanked Trump and described the envoys as trusted intermediaries. [3] Putin pledged to ensure their safety. [3] Trump said the envoys carry a proposal to end the war. [3] Trump stated that the envoys were sent to assess whether progress toward peace is possible. [3] Putin said contacts between Moscow and Washington have always been useful and that Russia finds it comfortable to work with Witkoff and Kushner. [3]
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff meet in the Kremlin. — Source: ukrainskapravda
Russian Drone Campaign Escalation
Russia launched around 350 jet-powered UAVs at Ukraine in June, 1,500 in July, and more than 2,800 in August. [2] Ukraine appointed Colonel Oleksandr Dmukhovskyi as commander of Close Air Defence. [2] The appointment comes as Russia steps up use of attack UAVs, particularly jet-powered drones. [2] Colonel Yurii Ihnat said the statistics speak for themselves as the enemy ramps up production and numbers of jet-powered UAVs. [2] Ukraine has developed innovative countermeasures that have already been unveiled. [2] The Air Force will provide facilities to test jet-powered interceptors. [2]
Recent Combat Losses and Casualties
Russia lost 1,260 soldiers and significant equipment over the past day according to Ukrainian General Staff data. [4] The General Staff reported total Russian losses since 24 February 2022 include approximately 1,495,050 military personnel. [4] At least seven people were killed in Russian strikes on Ukraine on Saturday, including in Kyiv suburbs and Dnipropetrovsk region. [3] Two people were killed in the Bucha district outside Kyiv. [3] Four people were killed in Kamianske in the southeast. [3] Five people were wounded in the Dnipropetrovsk region strike. [3]
Donald Trump appears in a portrait used to illustrate the US envoys diplomatic mission to Moscow and Kyiv. — Source: gdelt
Context of Broader Peace Efforts
The diplomatic push occurs amid intensified long-range drone and missile attacks that have increased civilian casualties to levels not seen since the start of the full-scale invasion. [3] Talks are stalled partly due to Washington's conflict with Iran. [3] Russia struck the SBU headquarters in Kyiv center on Friday. [3] Zelensky said the strike targeted the office of the acting SBU head. [3] This was the first attack on the SBU headquarters since the invasion began. [3] The envoys' trip follows a visit to Moscow by CIA Director John Ratcliffe more than a week earlier. [3] Ratcliffe warned Russia against any attack on NATO member states. [3]
Intensified Attacks Amid Diplomatic Push
Zelensky accused Moscow of trying to disrupt the envoys' visit by striking two Kyiv airports and civilian targets in the Dnipro region overnight. [3] Putin said Russia launched no strikes on Kyiv on Saturday. [3] Trump described Witkoff and Kushner as two great negotiators who have done excellent work. [3] The envoys previously participated in talks on Gaza and Iran ceasefires and have visited Moscow multiple times. [3] Ukraine's air space has remained closed since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. [3] Visiting leaders and officials in Kyiv typically travel by train. [3]
What to watch next: The envoys are scheduled to arrive in Kyiv on Sunday to present the proposal to end the war, with both sides having committed to the three-day pause on capital strikes during the visits.
