US envoy Witkoff in Russia as Trump’s Ukraine ceasefire deadline looms
Russian President Vladimir Putin sat down with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday for nearly three hours of what the Kremlin called “useful and constructive” talks — just two days before a key deadline set by President Donald Trump.
Trump has warned Russia to move toward peace in Ukraine by Friday or face tough new sanctions, including penalties on countries that continue buying Russian exports like oil and gas.
What Happened at the Meeting?
The closed-door talks in Moscow focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has now dragged on for over three and a half years. While no firm agreements were announced, both sides reportedly exchanged “signals,” hinting at potential areas of compromise.
Yuri Ushakov, one of Putin’s top aides, said the discussion also touched on broader cooperation between the U.S. and Russia. However, he didn’t reveal specifics, noting that Witkoff still needs to debrief Trump.
One Russian official, Kirill Dmitriev, posted optimistically on social media: “Dialogue will prevail.” But the U.S. has yet to issue any formal comments about the meeting.
What’s at Stake?
Trump has threatened to slap tariffs on countries — particularly India and China — that keep buying Russian oil if Moscow doesn’t show real progress toward ending the war.
The Kremlin, for its part, has dismissed those threats as illegal and says it’s not clear what kind of offer Russia might make to avoid sanctions.
Possible Peace Proposal?
According to reports from Bloomberg and Russian outlet The Bell, the Kremlin may propose a temporary halt to airstrikes from both sides — a move Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also mentioned recently. While not a full ceasefire, such a pause could be a step toward easing tensions.
However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his team say nothing short of a complete ceasefire and a summit of world leaders will do. Zelenskiy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, posted: “The war must stop, and for now this is on Russia.”
Recent Escalation
Despite the peace talk, the violence on the ground has intensified. Russia recently carried out its deadliest air raids of the war, killing at least 72 people in Kyiv. Trump called the attacks “disgusting.”
In response, Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Russian oil and gas infrastructure. Zelenskiy accused Russia of targeting a gas station vital for Ukraine’s winter heating. Russia claimed it was hitting facilities used by the Ukrainian military.
Can a Deal Be Reached?
Analysts are skeptical. Putin is reportedly unwilling to back down, believing his military has the upper hand and that new U.S. sanctions won’t do much more damage than those already in place.
Putin’s conditions for peace remain unchanged: a NATO freeze, Ukrainian neutrality, protections for Russian-speaking communities, and recognition of Russia’s control over seized territories.
Ukraine, however, refuses to accept any of those terms — especially giving up its right to join NATO or acknowledging Russia’s territorial gains.
Who Is Steve Witkoff?
Steve Witkoff is a real estate billionaire with no previous diplomatic experience. Trump brought him on earlier this year to handle peace talks not only in Ukraine, but also in Gaza and Iran. His role has raised eyebrows, but the Kremlin has taken his visit seriously — though few expect immediate results.
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