Trump told reporters on Friday that Witkoff and Kushner were "bringing with them a proposal to end the war". So far, efforts from the US and it’s allies to broker a peace deal have failed to deliver a breakthrough. Both Russia and Ukraine have said they will halt strikes on each others' capital cities for three days while the delegation conducts its visit.

Zelensky said on Saturday that he had spoken to the envoys, who have "already begun working with the Russian side today". "The plan for tomorrow's diplomatic engagements in Kyiv, involving the US team, has been approved. We are waiting for Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner and are ready for a substantive conversation," he added. "From now through the end of Saturday, as well as on Sunday and Monday, Ukraine is ready to refrain from strikes on Moscow, and we expect the Russians to do the same regarding Kyiv".

Russian state media reported that President Vladimir Putin had ordered a halt to strikes on Kyiv for three days due to the US visit. Witkoff and Kushner were pictured being greeted by Russian diplomat Kirill Dmitriev after landing at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. Flight tracking data showed a US government plane had travelled from Helsinki, Finland, where it flew to from the US  in the day.

US news outlet Axios reported that the US envoys would separately meet both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Kushner and Witkoff have visited Russia several times but the talks on Sunday would be the first in Ukraine. Delegations from Ukraine have attended talks in the US over the past 18 months. Zelensky said Russia had fired "demonstrative" strikes on airports in Kyiv and Boryspil overnight ahead of his planned meeting with the US.

Ukraine's president added: "Clearly, these Russian strikes on the airports are a reaction to the discussions and preparations for the possibility of the US side using an aircraft to travel to Ukraine and land at Kyiv Airport or Boryspil Airport". (BBC)