US President Donald Trump’s special representatives, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, have met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow as the United States continues efforts to help end the war in Ukraine. The meeting took place at the Kremlin and lasted around three hours, according to Russian state media. The talks were held behind closed doors, and officials have not publicly provided a detailed account of everything discussed. The meeting is part of a renewed diplomatic effort involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine. Washington has been trying to bring the two sides closer to an agreement that could eventually end the conflict. When Witkoff and Kushner arrived in Moscow, Putin welcomed them and said the situation was complicated. He said Russia would explain how it views the current situation. Witkoff thanked Putin for agreeing to stop attacks on Kyiv for three days. Putin also said that contacts between the two sides were useful and thanked President Trump for his efforts to find a peaceful solution. The Russian president said he was comfortable working with the US representatives and described the level of trust between the negotiating teams as relatively high. The talks in Moscow are only one part of the diplomatic process. The US representatives are also expected to travel to Kyiv for meetings with Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had already spoken with the US envoys. He said Ukraine was prepared for serious discussions when they arrived in Kyiv. Zelensky also said Ukraine was ready to avoid attacks on Moscow through the end of Saturday and during Sunday and Monday. He said Ukraine expected Russia to take similar steps regarding Kyiv. Russia has agreed to stop strikes on Kyiv for three days, according to Russian state media. However, Putin made clear that Russia had not agreed to a ceasefire across the rest of Ukraine. This means the temporary pause is limited and does not represent a full end to fighting. Military activity in other parts of Ukraine can continue while the diplomatic discussions take place. The situation remains difficult because Russia and Ukraine continue to disagree on several major issues. These include territory, security arrangements and the conditions needed for a long-term peace agreement. Ukraine has also raised concerns about recent Russian attacks. Zelensky said Russia carried out strikes on airports in and around Kyiv before the planned diplomatic meetings. He suggested the attacks could be connected to preparations for the US delegation's possible visit to Ukraine. Ukraine's president also reported casualties from a separate Russian strike on a civilian building in the Dnipro region. Such reports highlight the continuing risks while diplomatic efforts are underway. The visit by Witkoff and Kushner comes shortly after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made a rare visit to Moscow. US officials have not publicly provided many details about the discussions held during these diplomatic contacts. President Trump has previously described contacts between the United States and Russia as part of ongoing efforts to resolve the conflict. The latest talks are important because previous attempts to reach a peace agreement have not produced a final deal. The United States, Ukraine, Russia and European countries have held several rounds of discussions, but major disagreements remain. For now, the three-day pause around Kyiv provides a limited opportunity for diplomats to communicate without the same level of immediate military pressure in the capital area. However, it does not mean that the wider war has stopped. The next important step will be the planned meetings in Kyiv. Discussions between the US representatives and Ukrainian officials could help clarify whether the proposals being discussed with Russia have enough support from Ukraine. A lasting peace agreement would likely require both Russia and Ukraine to make difficult decisions and reach agreement on several major issues. Until that happens, the conflict remains unresolved. The meetings in Moscow and Kyiv therefore represent another attempt to move the situation toward negotiations. Whether these talks can produce a broader ceasefire or a long-term peace agreement remains uncertain.