Moscow (Brussels Morning News paper) – A meeting is currently taking place at the Kremlin between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, according to Russian media. Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, coinciding with the upcoming deadline set by Donald Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
United States envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a last-ditch attempt to spur a breakthrough in the Ukraine conflict, just two days before Trump’s deadline for Russia to either accept peace or risk new sanctions. He was welcomed by Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s investment envoy and head of its sovereign wealth fund, Reuters reported.
What is Trump’s deadline for a Russian ceasefire?
The deadline requires Russia to cease hostilities in Ukraine by that Friday or face additional sanctions. Trump stated that Russia may encounter severe sanctions or secondary sanctions targeting all its trade partners unless it takes action to cease the “horrible war” with Kyiv. The White House has stated that the results of the visit will shape any new, tougher sanctions.
Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has warned that Russia won’t be less aggressive in its pursuit of peace if it stops receiving a steady flow of cash. At the same time, Zelensky praised the possibility of more stringent US sanctions and tariffs imposed on countries purchasing Russian oil.
What progress have past peace talks achieved so far?
Witkoff’s visit is his fifth trip to Moscow this year. Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump‘s special envoy, has met Russian President Vladimir Putin multiple times in 2025 as part of efforts to negotiate peace related to the Ukraine conflict.
Witkoff’s visits to Moscow include his last meeting with Putin in April 2025, where they discussed the possibility of renewing direct peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Why did the Istanbul negotiations fail to end the war?
As reported, the three rounds of peace talks in Istanbul between Ukraine and Russia did not bring the war closer to an end. Regardless of the negotiations’ results, which included agreements reached on prisoners of war that committed to swapping at least 1,000 prisoners, and returning the bodies of thousands of dead soldiers, humanitarian negotiating efforts toward a ceasefire and or settlement have not progressed meaningfully.
What are the key obstacles to a ceasefire deal?
According to experts, both sides seem very far away from their positions: Ukraine relies on a so-called complete and unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for any further talks, although Russia is advocating for limited, short-term pauses while also demanding the terms agreed to before any ceasefire/disarmament.
