In a significant diplomatic exchange, US envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, while former President Donald Trump called for urgent action towards a ceasefire.
**Diplomatic Engagement: US Envoy's Meeting with Putin Amid Ceasefire Calls**
**Diplomatic Engagement: US Envoy's Meeting with Putin Amid Ceasefire Calls**
US special envoy Steve Witkoff meets Putin as Trump urges Russia to expedite ceasefire negotiations in Ukraine.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Library in St Petersburg, marking a pivotal engagement on Friday, as former President Donald Trump urged Russia to accelerate efforts towards a ceasefire in Ukraine. The Kremlin reported that the four-hour discussion focused on various dimensions of a potential Ukrainian settlement. Notably, this meeting, Witkoff's third with Putin this year, was deemed "productive" by special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Trump voiced his exasperation with the slow pace of negotiations, stating, "Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war." Concurrently, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg faced backlash for remarks about potential territorial divisions in Ukraine, which he later clarified were misinterpreted and that he did not advocate for a partitioning of the nation.
As discussions unfolded, European nations pledged €21 billion ($24 billion) in military support for Ukraine, underscoring ongoing global commitment despite continued hostilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that major breakthroughs should not be anticipated immediately, hinting at a progressive normalization of relations.
Witkoff also met Dmitriev ahead of the talks, marking the latter's significant visit to the U.S. last week since the Ukraine war escalated in 2022. During a visit to Kryvyi Rih following a deadly missile attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of intentionally prolonging the conflict, referencing the involvement of Chinese nationals in Russian military efforts.
Overall, the diplomatic exchanges indicate ongoing complexities in the conflict's resolution, with Zelensky reiterating Ukraine's necessity for enhanced military support, including air defense systems. Trump asserted a belief that he could resolve the conflict swiftly had he remained in office, further complicating relations with Zelensky and emphasizing the urgency in reaching a ceasefire.
As the U.S. and Russia continue negotiating, both nations grapple with deep-seated discord while striving for a peaceful resolution amid rising tensions in the region, illuminating the challenges faced in international diplomacy.
Trump voiced his exasperation with the slow pace of negotiations, stating, "Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war." Concurrently, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg faced backlash for remarks about potential territorial divisions in Ukraine, which he later clarified were misinterpreted and that he did not advocate for a partitioning of the nation.
As discussions unfolded, European nations pledged €21 billion ($24 billion) in military support for Ukraine, underscoring ongoing global commitment despite continued hostilities. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that major breakthroughs should not be anticipated immediately, hinting at a progressive normalization of relations.
Witkoff also met Dmitriev ahead of the talks, marking the latter's significant visit to the U.S. last week since the Ukraine war escalated in 2022. During a visit to Kryvyi Rih following a deadly missile attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Kremlin of intentionally prolonging the conflict, referencing the involvement of Chinese nationals in Russian military efforts.
Overall, the diplomatic exchanges indicate ongoing complexities in the conflict's resolution, with Zelensky reiterating Ukraine's necessity for enhanced military support, including air defense systems. Trump asserted a belief that he could resolve the conflict swiftly had he remained in office, further complicating relations with Zelensky and emphasizing the urgency in reaching a ceasefire.
As the U.S. and Russia continue negotiating, both nations grapple with deep-seated discord while striving for a peaceful resolution amid rising tensions in the region, illuminating the challenges faced in international diplomacy.
