Amid rising battlefield casualties and stalled diplomacy, Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine.
In a high-stakes diplomatic effort to end the war in Ukraine, United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Saint Petersburg.
The meeting marked the most direct US-Russia contact on Ukraine since ceasefire negotiations began stalling earlier this year.
Russian state television broadcast footage of the two leaders greeting each other in the city’s presidential library, signaling the start of closed-door discussions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the significance of the meeting, stating:
“Witkoff, as a special representative of President Trump, will bring something from his president to Putin. Putin will listen to it. The conversation on various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement will continue.”
Earlier in the day, Russian media published footage of Witkoff and Russian economic negotiator Kirill Dmitriev departing their hotel, underscoring the anticipation surrounding the talks.
The diplomatic effort comes amid a protracted stalemate in ceasefire negotiations. Russia and Ukraine agreed in March to halt strikes on energy infrastructure, yet both sides continue to accuse each other of violations. A broader peace agreement remains elusive.
Last month, President Putin rejected a US-Ukrainian proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire, insisting on a range of security guarantees that include halting NATO expansion, reducing US military presence in Europe, and noninterference in Russian domestic affairs.
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Despite this, Trump’s administration appears determined to push for a resolution. In a post Friday on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote:
“Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war – A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”
In a previous interview with NBC News, Trump hinted at imposing tariffs on Russian oil should a peace deal not materialize, saying,
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine… there will be consequences.”
Analysts say the Kremlin had low expectations for the meeting, though its symbolic significance was notable.
“Putin is unlikely to signal readiness for a ceasefire while Russian forces continue making gradual gains on the frontlines,” one analyst noted. They added that Russia’s key demands remain unchanged — including halting NATO expansion, reducing U.S. influence in Europe, and securing noninterference in its domestic affairs.
Some experts also suggest that declining oil prices could weaken Russia’s ability to sustain a drawn-out war effort, increasing economic pressure on Moscow over time.
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Steve Witkoff, a real estate executive and Trump confidant, has quickly risen as a central diplomatic figure in backchannel talks between Washington and Moscow. After a previous meeting with Putin, Witkoff controversially praised the Russian leader, calling him a “great leader” and “not a bad guy.”
Recent developments hint at softening tensions. On Thursday, US and Russian officials held parallel talks in Turkiye to discuss normalizing diplomatic missions, while also negotiating a high-profile prisoner swap: Russian-American Ksenia Karelina was released in exchange for suspected tech smuggler Arthur Petrov.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov called the swap “a step toward rebuilding trust,” and hinted that more cooperative gestures could follow.
