James Uche
The Kremlin has described a three-hour meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff as “constructive,” as a ceasefire deadline imposed by US President Donald Trump rapidly approaches.
Foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin delivered “signals” on the “Ukrainian question” and received similar signals from the American side. Details of the negotiations are expected to be disclosed after Witkoff briefs President Trump.
The talks mark a critical moment in Washington’s latest push to end the war in Ukraine. President Trump, growing impatient with the lack of progress since taking office in January, has warned of severe sanctions against Russia and secondary tariffs on countries trading with Moscow if the Kremlin fails to move toward peace.
There was no immediate response from Ukrainian or US officials following the meeting.
Ahead of the talks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the threat of more punitive measures against Russia. “They will only make serious moves toward peace when they run out of money,” he said, emphasizing the potential impact of harsher US sanctions and tariffs on Russian oil exports.
Despite diplomatic efforts, expectations remain low for a breakthrough before Trump’s ceasefire deadline on Friday. Russia has continued its large-scale aerial assaults on Ukraine, including a deadly strike on Kyiv last week, which killed 32 people — the deadliest in the capital since the full-scale invasion began in early 2022.
Photos shared by Russian media showed Putin and Witkoff — who have met on several occasions in the past — smiling and shaking hands in a gilded hall, projecting an air of formality and diplomacy despite the unresolved tensions.
Trump, who once claimed he could end the war “in one day,” has recently toughened his stance on Russia. “We thought we had [the war] settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever,” he said last month, expressing frustration over Putin’s actions despite earlier talks.
Three prior rounds of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Istanbul failed to produce a ceasefire. Russia’s military and political conditions for peace remain unacceptable to Kyiv and its Western allies. Moscow has also repeatedly rejected requests for a direct meeting between Putin and Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration approved an additional $200 million in military support for Ukraine on Tuesday, following a phone call between Trump and Zelensky in which they discussed drone production and broader defense cooperation.
Ukraine has increasingly used drones to target Russian refineries and energy facilities. In retaliation, Russia has focused its air attacks on Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure.
In the central Zaporizhzhia region, Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian missile struck a holiday camp on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring twelve. “There’s no military sense in this attack. It’s just cruelty to scare people,” Zelensky said.
The window for a US-brokered ceasefire deal is closing fast. While the Kremlin appears open to continued dialogue, the reality on the battlefield suggests that peace remains elusive — for now.