In a significant diplomatic move, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Friday that US special envoy Steve Witkoff is in Russia for direct talks with the Kremlin and President Vladimir Putin, aimed at negotiating a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
Leavitt described the visit as “another step in the negotiating process toward a ceasefire and an ultimate peace deal,” underscoring President Donald Trump’s growing impatience with the prolonged war. “The President has been quite clear that he has been continually frustrated with both sides of this conflict,” she said during a press briefing.
Russian state television earlier broadcast footage of Putin welcoming Witkoff at the presidential library in St. Petersburg. The talks, according to Al Jazeera, lasted over four hours and addressed “various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement,” though further details remain undisclosed.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov hinted that discussions may include a potential future meeting between Trump and Putin, adding a new layer of significance to the diplomatic outreach.
Meanwhile, President Trump has taken a firm stance on the conflict. In a recent interview with NBC News, he expressed his frustration with Putin’s approach, warning of additional tariffs on Russian oil if meaningful progress isn’t made. “I was very angry—pissed off—when Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility,” Trump said. He also cautioned that delays in reaching a deal could carry serious consequences, including secondary sanctions.
The talks come amid mounting global pressure to bring an end to the war, which has had far-reaching humanitarian and economic impacts. The Biden administration had previously pursued multilateral approaches, but Trump’s administration appears to be shifting toward direct engagement with Russia in hopes of brokering peace.
