Zelensky Proposes Russia Ceasefire During US Envoys’ Visit: 'There Will Be No Air Strikes From Our Side'

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a temporary ceasefire with Russia during the upcoming visits of US President Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow and Kyiv, calling for both sides to suspend air strikes to allow peace negotiations to take place.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are scheduled to visit Moscow on Saturday and Kyiv on Sunday as part of Washington’s efforts to explore a possible settlement to the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky confirmed the planned visits in a post on Telegram, saying the details had been discussed with Trump’s team.

Zelensky’s proposal came after Russia carried out a daytime air strike on Kyiv on Friday, including an attack that Ukraine said targeted the headquarters of its intelligence service and the office of its intelligence chief.

The Ukrainian president said Kyiv was prepared to halt its own air strikes while the US envoys travelled to the region and held talks.

“There will be no air strikes from our side, and Russia must mirror this by ensuring silence without its air strikes for the time needed to hold these negotiations and resolve the logistical issues associated with this American visit,” Zelensky said.

He said Ukraine was prepared to facilitate the visit by maintaining normal functioning of its airspace.

According to Zelensky, Ukrainian diplomats had held a meeting to prepare for the American delegation’s arrival. He said arrangements had been discussed to ensure the Russian airspace remained operational so that Witkoff and Kushner could travel safely.

Zelensky calls for ‘real options’ to end war

Zelensky said Ukraine wanted to use the upcoming diplomatic engagement to explore concrete possibilities for ending the conflict, which has continued for more than four years.

“We'll see what proposals Steve and Jared have and what Moscow will say to them,” Zelensky wrote.

He also stressed that Kyiv was focused on engaging with the American envoys and finding a path towards ending the war.

The proposed pause comes as Russian forces have intensified daytime aerial attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in recent days. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly accused Moscow of targeting civilian areas.

Before Friday’s daytime strike on Kyiv, Russia launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine’s Odesa region, killing one person and injuring at least five others, including a child, according to Ukrainian authorities.

Overnight attacks in other parts of the country also reportedly killed two police officials in Dnipro.

The latest attacks have added urgency to diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a ceasefire and eventually ending the conflict.

The planned visits by Witkoff and Kushner are expected to provide an opportunity for Washington to assess Moscow and Kyiv’s positions directly. The Kyiv visit would also mark the first time the two Trump envoys travel to the Ukrainian capital as part of efforts to negotiate a settlement.

Zelensky’s proposal now puts the focus on whether Russia will agree to temporarily suspend its air operations while the American delegation conducts its talks in Moscow and Kyiv.

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