U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow this week, days before a White House-imposed deadline for Russia to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine or face sweeping economic penalties, according to Russian state media.
Footage aired by TASS showed Witkoff walking through Moscow’s Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation. Dmitriev has played a prominent role in recent peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul, as well as in ongoing U.S.-Russia discussions.
It remains unclear whether Witkoff will meet President Putin during his visit. However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov welcomed the trip, calling the talks with Witkoff “important, substantive and very useful.”
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President Trump has given Moscow a deadline until Friday to halt its offensive in Ukraine and agree to a peace framework. Failure to comply could lead to severe tariffs and additional economic measures, including potential secondary sanctions targeting countries that continue to import Russian oil, such as China and India.
Despite Trump’s pressure, the Kremlin has not shifted its stance, and Russian forces continue to make advances on the battlefield. While Ukraine continues to defend key areas, it is reportedly losing ground in some front-line regions.
Trump initially provided a 50-day deadline, later accelerating it as Russia intensified strikes on Ukrainian cities. Speaking Sunday, Trump acknowledged Russia’s resilience under sanctions, saying, “They’re wily characters,” and noted that Moscow has been “pretty good at avoiding sanctions.”
The Kremlin maintains that international sanctions since the February 2022 invasion have had limited impact. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to urge the West to impose tougher secondary sanctions on Russia’s energy, trade, and financial sectors, insisting such measures are affecting Russia’s war capabilities.
Source: Agency