U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, Russian state media reported, just days before a critical U.S.-imposed deadline for Russia to agree to a Ukraine ceasefire or face severe economic sanctions. Witkoff, spotted strolling through Zaryadye Park near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s envoy for economic cooperation, is pushing for progress in peace talks as the Friday deadline approaches, amid escalating tensions and ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
The Kremlin has not confirmed a meeting between Witkoff and President Vladimir Putin, but spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the visit “important, substantive, and very useful.” Trump initially set a 50-day ultimatum for Russia to halt its aggression, but, frustrated by continued Russian drone and missile strikes— including a deadly attack on Kyiv last week that killed 31 civilians—he shortened it to 10 days. The White House threatens “severe tariffs” and secondary sanctions targeting Russia’s economy and its energy trade partners, like China and India, if no deal is reached. Trump, however, acknowledged Russia’s knack for evading sanctions, calling them “wily characters.”
Witkoff’s visit follows months of stalled diplomacy, with Russia maintaining its demands for control over four Ukrainian regions and a guarantee against Ukraine’s NATO membership. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who spoke with Trump on Tuesday, insists on stronger Western sanctions to cripple Moscow’s war efforts, urging action on Russia’s energy and banking sectors. Despite Russia’s claim that sanctions have minimal impact, Ukraine reports significant strain on Moscow’s resources.
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The envoy’s presence in Moscow, where he has previously met Putin, comes amid heightened U.S.-Russia friction, underscored by Trump’s deployment of two nuclear submarines to unspecified regions after provocative remarks by former Russian leader Dmitry Medvedev. Ukrainian officials, including Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, view the U.S. pressure as a sign that “peace through strength” is working, though skepticism persists about Russia’s willingness to negotiate meaningfully. As Ukraine endures near-nightly attacks and loses ground, the outcome of Witkoff’s talks could shape the war’s trajectory—or deepen the deadlock.
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