Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, in Moscow on Wednesday — just days before a White House deadline for Russia to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine or face harsh new economic penalties. These potential measures could also target countries, like China and India, that continue buying Russian oil.
The Kremlin confirmed the meeting lasted around three hours but didn’t immediately release any details. Earlier in the day, Witkoff was seen walking through Moscow’s Zaryadye Park with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s top envoy for economic cooperation. Dmitriev, who has previously been involved in Russia-Ukraine and Russia-U.S. negotiations, later posted on X that “dialogue will prevail.”
Despite multiple rounds of talks, efforts to end the three-year war — sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — have seen little progress.
Trump’s deadline for Putin expires Friday, with Washington warning of “severe tariffs” and other economic actions unless Russia halts its attacks. Trump has grown increasingly critical of Putin’s continued strikes on Ukrainian civilians, which he believes are aimed at breaking the country’s morale.
Trump’s envoy reaches Moscow ahead of Russia-Ukraine peace deadline: Russian media
Just hours before the Moscow meeting, Russian forces launched a deadly attack on a recreation center in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, killing two and injuring 12, including children, according to local officials. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strike as senseless and cruel, noting that Russia also targeted the country’s energy infrastructure ahead of winter.
Western analysts say Putin is delaying serious peace talks while his forces continue advancing in Ukraine, albeit slowly and at high cost. Despite setbacks, the Kremlin appears determined to seize more territory.
Speaking Tuesday, Trump said he would decide soon whether to follow through on tariffs targeting countries that import Russian oil. “We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.” He added that no final tariff rate has been set yet.
Escalating U.S. pressure on the Kremlin risks deepening already tense relations. A recent report from the Center for European Policy Analysis warned that Russia appears to be preparing for broader confrontation with NATO, citing increased military activity along its western border.
Putin, meanwhile, has continued to strengthen military ties with China, Iran, and North Korea. NATO said Tuesday it has begun coordinating the delivery of heavy weapons to Ukraine, with most equipment purchased from the U.S. by European allies and Canada. The Trump administration has chosen not to supply Ukraine with weapons directly.
Putin has shown no sign of backing down. He recently announced that a new hypersonic missile, which he claims cannot be intercepted by NATO defenses, is now operational. Russia also declared Tuesday that it is no longer bound by a moratorium on deploying intermediate-range nuclear missiles — a move that could trigger a new arms race.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that the Ukraine war could escalate into direct conflict between Russia and the U.S. In response, Trump ordered two American nuclear submarines to be repositioned.
The Kremlin welcomed Witkoff’s visit, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling the talks “important and very useful.” Initially, Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline but shortened it as Russian attacks intensified.
Still, Trump has voiced skepticism about sanctions' impact, saying on Sunday that Russia has shown skill in evading them. “They’re wily characters,” he remarked.
While Russia claims sanctions have had limited effect, Ukraine argues they are undermining Russia’s war effort and has urged Western nations to toughen their enforcement.
Source: Agency