Zelensky offers ceasefire on strikes against Moscow during talks
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Kyiv: Ukraine is prepared to observe a ceasefire on airstrikes against Russian cities involved in the negotiation process, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced after speaking with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
“From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow,” Zelensky said on X, adding that Kyiv expected Russia to take similar steps regarding the Ukrainian capital.
Interfax-Ukraine reported that Witkoff and Kushner were due to visit Kyiv on Sunday following their trip to Moscow, where they held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the Moscow discussions as substantive, constructive and “extremely frank”, held in a working format and informally over dinner, lasting three hours and 10 minutes.
Ushakov said Putin reaffirmed Russia’s readiness to continue joint work with the United States in search of political and diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine issue, while the Russian side presented assessments of the situation on the ground amid what Moscow calls its “special military operation”. The talks also covered economic matters and potential large-scale, mutually beneficial Russian-US projects, with both sides confirming that the heads of state would maintain personal contact and that work through the envoys would continue.
The US negotiators pledged to convey to Kyiv the observations and assessments they received directly from Putin on reaching a durable peaceful settlement, Ushakov said.
(Inputs from IANS)