Putin orders halt on Kyiv strikes for 3 days, to hold talks with US envoys today | World News - hindustantimes.com

**Putin Calls for a Three‑Day Pause in Kyiv Bombardments Ahead of Talks with U.S. Envoys** Moscow – In a surprising shift, President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that Russian forces would suspend offensive strikes on Kyiv for a period of three days, starting at 0000 GMT on Thursday. The decision follows a recent cease‑fire proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who urged all parties to halt hostilities to create space for diplomatic negotiations. The Kremlin framed the pause as a “humanitarian gesture” intended to facilitate direct talks with a delegation of U.S. representatives scheduled for later the same day.

The U.S. team, led by senior advisers Stephen Witkoff and former White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, arrived in Moscow early Thursday and were granted a private audience with President Putin in the Kremlin. According to Kremlin officials, the envoys presented “a number of ideas” aimed at ending the war, ranging from a phased cease‑fire and the establishment of a neutral Ukrainian security zone to a roadmap for the removal of foreign troops and the initiation of reconstruction efforts. The delegation’s agenda also included discussions on the future status of the Donbas region and mechanisms for verifying compliance, though specifics were not disclosed publicly.

Reactions to the temporary halt have been mixed. Kyiv welcomed the pause but cautioned that any cessation of fire must be accompanied by concrete steps toward a lasting settlement; President Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine remains committed to defending its sovereignty. NATO allies expressed tentative optimism, urging the United States and Russia to use the window to build confidence and advance a diplomatic solution. Russian officials, meanwhile, portrayed the pause as a sign of “constructive engagement” while underscoring that any future cessation of operations would depend on the outcomes of the talks. Observers note that the three‑day truce could serve as a test of goodwill, but warn that without a clear, enforceable framework, the pause may merely be a tactical pause rather than a substantive move toward peace.