Russia launched air raids on Kyiv early Tuesday, damaging two residential buildings, as a three-day pause in strikes on the Ukrainian and Russian capitals expired. The attacks followed visits by two US envoys aimed at de-escalating the conflict, which yielded no tangible progress towards peace.

The temporary suspension of hostilities on both sides was intended to coincide with the diplomatic efforts of US President Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who visited Moscow and Kyiv over the weekend. Russia’s state news agency TASS confirmed that the mandated three-day suspension of strikes ordered by President Vladimir Putin ended on Monday evening local time.

In Kyiv, drones hit buildings in the capital and in the Boryspil and Fastiv districts on the outskirts, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine. An air raid alert urged residents to take shelter. Following these reported attacks, Russian regional Governor Roman Busargin stated that a Ukrainian drone strike injured several people after hitting civilian infrastructure in Saratov, a city located nearly 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) from Moscow. The exact number of casualties from both sets of incidents remains unconfirmed.

The resumption of strikes highlights the challenges in finding a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing war. The White House indicated that further steps regarding the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, would be announced in the coming weeks.

During their visits, Witkoff and Kushner held discussions with officials in both capitals. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the meeting in Moscow as "highly useful." After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Witkoff characterized the talks as "very meaningful" and "substantive," expressing encouragement and a commitment to continue engagement.

Witkoff also reportedly raised the possibility of restarting trilateral negotiations aimed at ending the war. The US envoys' mission underscored the international community's continued engagement in seeking a peaceful resolution, despite the immediate return to hostilities.

The pause in capital city attacks, though brief, represented a rare moment of de-escalation amidst the protracted conflict. However, fighting continued in other regions throughout the three-day period, indicating the broader challenges to achieving a comprehensive ceasefire.

Officials have not provided further details on the specific outcomes of the US envoys' discussions, leaving open questions about the potential for future diplomatic breakthroughs and the path forward for peace negotiations.