Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff shake palms throughout their assembly in Moscow, Wednesday.
Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photograph by way of AP
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Gavriil Grigorov/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photograph by way of AP
MOSCOW — White Home envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, a part of a last-ditch effort by the Trump administration to persuade the Kremlin chief to make peace in Ukraine forward of a U.S.-imposed deadline Friday, or face new financial penalties.
It was not instantly clear if the 2 sides had made progress within the Kremlin assembly, which lasted three hours, based on Putin’s press group.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed reporters he had spoken with Witkoff after the assembly and anticipated the administration would make “some bulletins” later within the day — “perhaps optimistic, perhaps not,” he stated.
However in an indication that some new penalties over Russia’s conflict had been already underway, President Trump on Wednesday signed an govt order saying he would slap an additional 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil.
The Kremlin launched a video displaying Putin greeting Witkoff with a heat handshake. It was the 2 males’s fifth assembly this 12 months.
Yuri Ushakov, an adviser to Putin, was quoted by state media as calling the discussions “helpful” and “constructive.”
Ushakov added that whereas the 2 sides had exchanged “indicators” on the “Ukraine situation,” in addition they mentioned “views for doable strategic cooperation” between the U.S. and Russia.
Trump is annoyed
The assembly got here as President Trump has grown more and more annoyed with Putin over his failure to droop assaults on Ukrainian cities regardless of months of U.S.-led peace efforts.
Trump had campaigned to return to workplace vowing he may leverage his private relationship with Putin developed over his first time period in workplace to finish the conflict in “24 hours.”
However Trump says his endurance has grown skinny with each day reviews of Ukrainian civilian casualties from Russian assaults.
“I am going dwelling, I inform the primary girl, ‘You already know, I spoke to Vladimir in the present day. We had a beautiful dialog.’ And she or he stated, ‘Oh actually? One other metropolis was simply hit,'” stated Trump in a July 15 assembly with NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte within the Oval Workplace.
That very same day Trump introduced a stark shift in his coverage towards Russia.
He stated the U.S. had reached a deal to promote American-made weapons to NATO allies in Europe, which might then ship U.S. weapons to Ukraine.
He additionally warned that Russia had 50 days to finish the conflict or face “extreme” new financial penalties. He stated this included “secondary tariffs” on international locations shopping for Russian items.
Quickly Trump upped his ultimatum, saying final week that Russia had simply “10 or 12 days” earlier than to make peace. Ultimately, he set this Friday because the deadline.
Trump has defined that the plan is to starve the Russian conflict machine of gas income.
When requested later if there was a means for Russia to keep away from the extra financial stress, Trump instructed reporters Tuesday: “Yeah, get a deal the place individuals cease getting killed.”
Trump additionally questioned whether or not any penalties may push Russia to vary course. “You already know, they’re wily characters and so they’re fairly good at avoiding sanctions,” Trump stated.
Russia shrugs
Putin has largely prevented addressing Trump’s threats and criticism in public, solely breaking his silence final week with a short, veiled reference to the U.S. chief.
“All disappointments stem from inflated expectations, because the saying goes,” Putin instructed reporters final Friday following a go to to a monastery in northwest Russia.
“With a view to remedy the problem in a peaceable means,” continued Putin, “we’d like deep conversations, and never in public, however within the calm quiet of the negotiating course of.”
After Trump introduced the shortened deadline for a peace deal, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow had “taken observe” of the U.S. chief’s feedback.
Peskov downplayed the financial threats, claiming the Russian financial system had grown largely “immune” to Western stress following greater than three years of sanctions.
Trump warms to Ukraine
Whereas President Trump has more and more criticized Russia, his relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has improved dramatically since that they had an on-camera argument within the White Home again in February.
Within the newest signal, Zelenskyy stated Tuesday on social media that he had a “productive dialog” with Trump on the eve of Witkoff’s journey to Moscow.
“After all, we spoke about sanctions towards Russia,” Zelenskyy stated. “Their financial system continues to say no, and that is precisely why Moscow is so delicate to this prospect and President Trump’s resolve.”
Zelenskyy additionally introduced that 4 European international locations have agreed to purchase U.S. weapons and ship them to Ukraine beneath the association Trump introduced final month.
“We have already got commitments from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark – over one billion {dollars} for American weapons that Ukraine will obtain. Thanks! This cooperation with NATO international locations will proceed,” Zelenskyy stated.
The Netherlands stated it’s going to ship American missiles and different components for U.S. Patriot air protection techniques already in Ukraine, valuing the help at greater than $500 million.
The Patriot batteries are Ukraine’s simplest technique of capturing down incoming Russian missiles. The Ukrainians say they urgently want further missiles for the Patriot batteries to defend towards escalating Russian airstrikes.
“This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the remainder of Europe towards Russian aggression,” Dutch Protection Minister Ruben Brekelmans wrote on X.
Sweden, Norway and Denmark say they’ve collectively agreed to assist a bundle of U.S. weapons as properly, this one for a little bit beneath $500 million. There was no rapid phrase on which U.S. arms they might ship to Ukraine.
Trump got here into workplace in January saying he opposed further U.S. navy help for Ukraine. However on the White Home assembly with Rutte, Trump stated he supported NATO international locations shopping for U.S. weapons after which sending them on to Ukraine.
NPR’s Greg Myre contributed reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine.
