Wikipedia
United States special envoy Steve Witkoff has held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, the Kremlin confirmed on Wednesday, just days before a White House-imposed deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine or face economic consequences.
While the Kremlin has yet to release further information about the discussions, Russian state news agency TASS reported that Witkoff earlier met with presidential special representative Kirill Dmitriev. Dmitriev has played a prominent role in recent direct peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, as well as in dialogue between Russian and American officials.
President Donald Trump has warned that unless Moscow agrees to a ceasefire by Friday, his administration will implement sanctions. Although the White House has not disclosed specific measures it plans to take, Trump has previously floated the idea of imposing “secondary tariffs” on Russia’s trade partners, including India and China. When asked by reporters on Monday what Witkoff’s message to the Kremlin would be, and whether Russia could take steps to avoid sanctions, Trump stated simply: “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.”
Witkoff, a billionaire in the real estate industry, joined Trump’s foreign policy team in January with no prior diplomatic experience. His appointment has drawn criticism from observers who argue that he lacks the qualifications for complex international negotiations. Nonetheless, he has held several extended meetings with Putin in recent months.
Despite multiple rounds of talks in Istanbul aimed at halting the war, a breakthrough remains elusive. Putin has repeatedly rejected calls for an immediate ceasefire. Speaking last Friday, he said that while Russia wants peace, its demands remain unchanged. These include Ukraine ceding additional territory and abandoning Western military support, particularly its ambitions to join NATO.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently urged international allies to push for “regime change” in Moscow, further hardening positions on both sides.
The conflict, now nearing three and a half years in duration, shows little sign of resolution, even as diplomatic efforts intensify under increasing pressure from Washington.
