The Kremlin described Wednesday’s meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff as “constructive and useful,” according to Russian state media outlet TASS.
The talks came as a US-imposed sanctions deadline loomed, with President Donald Trump warning he would impose additional measures if Russia failed to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine.
Citing the Kremlin, state news agency RIA Novosti reported that Putin and Witkoff discussed Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. “Putin conveyed certain signals to the United States on the Ukrainian matter, and corresponding signals were also received from President Trump,” RIA said in a social media post.
The meeting lasted about three hours, according to the Russian presidential press service. Earlier that day, Witkoff was welcomed at Moscow’s airport by Russia’s investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. Footage released by the Kremlin later showed Witkoff and Putin shaking hands before the discussions began.
Since their last meeting in April, Russia has escalated its offensive against Ukraine, striking multiple cities with barrages of missiles and drones. Trump has condemned the attacks as “disgusting” and accused Putin of spreading “bullsh*t” during their tense phone calls.
Ahead of Wednesday’s talks, Trump said he would wait for the outcome before deciding whether to implement further sanctions on Russia. “We’re going to see what happens,” he told reporters at the White House. “We’ll make that determination at that time.”
Source: CNN
