Russian President Vladimir Putin met US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday, in what is being seen as a last-minute effort to avoid President Donald Trump’s sanctions if Moscow fails to end the Ukraine
war.
The two leaders were seen smiling in the video that emerged from the meeting in Moscow.
Trump, who had bragged that he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking office, has given Russia a deadline till Friday to make progress towards peace with Ukraine or face new penalties.
Three rounds of peace talks have been held so far, but the two sides have failed to reach a ceasefire agreement.
Trump has not said anything about actions against Russia, but he has previously threatened to impose “secondary tariffs” targeting Russia’s key trade partners. The move would aim to stifle Russian exports, but would risk significant international disruption.
Trump said Tuesday that he would await the outcome of the Moscow talks before ordering any economic retaliation. “We’re going to see what happens,” he had said.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov considered the talks with Witkoff to be “important, substantial and helpful” and valued US efforts to end the conflict.
Russia-US Tensions
The tensions between Moscow and Washington escalated when Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russia following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.
However, Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
In its response, Russia urged “caution” and suggested it could deploy such weapons in response to what it alleged were similar US deployments within striking distance of Russia.
Zelenskyy Urges US To Pressurise Russia Over Ukraine Ceasefire
Ahead of the Putin-Witkoff meeting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged Washington to up its pressure on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire.
“It is very important to strengthen all the levers in the arsenal of the United States, Europe, and the G7 so that a ceasefire truly comes into effect immediately. Ukraine sees the political will, appreciates the efforts of our partners, of America, and of everyone who is helping,” Zelensky wrote on social media on Wednesday after Witkoff landed in the Russian capital.
Russia’s more than three-year campaign on Ukraine has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed swathes of the country and forced millions to flee their homes. Moscow has demanded that Ukraine cede more territory and renounce Western support if it wants the fighting to stop.
(With agencies inputs)
