KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a temporary halt to airstrikes as U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepare to travel between Moscow and Kyiv in a renewed diplomatic effort to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Ukraine was prepared to pause its own air operations and urged Russia to reciprocate.
The proposal comes as fighting continues nearly five years after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russian forces have continued missile and drone attacks, while Ukraine has carried out its own strikes against targets inside Russia. A Russian drone attack on Friday struck the headquarters of Ukraine’s Security Service in central Kyiv, injuring 12 people, according to Ukrainian officials.
The latest diplomatic push is being led by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys, Witkoff and Kushner. Trump has said the two negotiators are carrying a proposal aimed at ending the conflict. They are expected to hold discussions in Moscow before traveling to Kyiv, where they will meet with Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy’s call for an air truce reflects the continuing effort to create limited pauses in the fighting that could open space for negotiations. Ukraine has previously supported temporary ceasefires linked to humanitarian needs and diplomatic initiatives, but such arrangements have repeatedly faced accusations of violations and have failed to produce a lasting peace.
The conflict has its roots in Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The war escalated dramatically on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion from several directions. The invasion triggered the largest war in Europe in decades and led to millions of Ukrainians fleeing their homes, widespread destruction and extensive international sanctions against Russia.
Previous attempts to halt the fighting have produced only limited results. Temporary truces and negotiations have been pursued at various points, including efforts involving the United States, European countries, Turkey and Middle Eastern mediators. Deep disagreements over territory, security guarantees and Ukraine’s future relationship with Western institutions have remained major obstacles to a comprehensive settlement.
The latest proposal faces immediate challenges as military operations continue. Reports indicate that Russian strikes were still being carried out as Zelenskyy called for the temporary pause, while Ukrainian forces have continued operations of their own. The contrasting positions highlight the difficulty of establishing a ceasefire without agreement from both sides.
For the international community, the upcoming meetings in Moscow and Kyiv could provide another opportunity to test whether diplomacy can reduce the violence. A temporary air truce would not amount to a peace agreement, but supporters say even a short pause could create safer conditions for negotiations and offer civilians a brief respite from a war that has reshaped European security and global geopolitics.
