Kathrine Frich
The temporary pause provides a brief window of safety while diplomatic efforts move forward.
High-stakes diplomacy often happens in complete secrecy long before any details reach the public eye.
Breakthroughs can begin with quiet conversations held far from the front lines.
Now, a surprise late-night meeting in Moscow has brought a rare moment of relief to a devastating war.
Midnight pause
Vladimir Putin ordered Russian forces to stop launching strikes on Kyiv for 72 hours, starting at midnight on Saturday according to Daily Express. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly matched the gesture, promising that Ukraine would refrain from targeting Moscow during that same period.
The quiet agreement followed a surprise arrival in the Russian capital. Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner sat down with Putin inside his official residence for three hours of talks behind closed doors.
Witkoff thanked the Russian leader for holding off on strikes, according to the Express. The temporary pause provides a brief window of safety while diplomatic efforts move forward.
Warm words inside
Televised footage from the meeting showed Putin offering praise for Donald Trump. He commended the American leader for seeking a peaceful resolution despite intense political pressure.
“Understanding that he is entering a difficult situation, he nevertheless does not stop his efforts to help bring about a settlement and to make his contribution to resolving the Russian-Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said.
The Russian leader also asked the envoys to send his “best wishes” to Trump. Senior Kremlin officials quickly echoed that upbeat tone.
Yuri Ushakov, a close aide to Putin, stated that discussions “went beyond a mere exchange of views on resolving the Ukrainian crisis.” He added that “economic issues and potential major, mutually beneficial Russian-American projects were discussed in some detail.”
Headed to Kyiv
Ushakov concluded that “overall, one can say that the negotiations were timely and highly useful for both sides.” Even so, the Kremlin maintains that its strict demands for ending the war remain completely unchanged.
The two American envoys are now traveling to Kyiv for their first official visit to the Ukrainian capital. Zelensky confirmed he is waiting to meet them and stated he was ready for “a substantive conversation.”
Sources: Express
