Witkoff meets Putin ahead of Trump’s ceasefire deadline : NPR

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and American special envoy Steve Witkoff serve his hand during their meeting in Moscow on Wednesday.

Gavriil Grigorov / Spoutnik / Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

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Gavriil Grigorov / Spoutnik / Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

Moscow – The Witkoff Steve Witkoff’s envoy met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Wednesday, part of a last effort from the Trump administration to convince the Kremlin leader to make peace in Ukraine before a deadline imposed in the United States, or to face new economic sanctions.

It was not immediately clear if the two parties had made progress at the Kremlin meeting, which lasted three hours, according to Putin’s press team.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told journalists that he spoke with Witkoff after the meeting and expected the administration to “make” announcements “later-” perhaps positive, perhaps not, “he said.

But in a sign that new penalties during the Russian war were already underway, President Trump signed a decree on Wednesday that he was going to slap an additional 25% rate on India for his Russian oil purchases.

The Kremlin has published a video showing Putin greeting Witkoff with a hot handshake. It was the fifth male meeting this year.

Yuri Ushakov, a Putin counselor, was cited by the state media as calling “useful” and “constructive” discussions.

Ushakov added that even if the two parties had exchanged “signals” on the “question of Ukraine”, they also discussed “possible strategic cooperation prospects” between the United States and Russia.

Trump is frustrated

The meeting occurred while President Trump has become more and more frustrated by Putin for his inability to suspend attacks against Ukrainian cities despite months of peace efforts led by the United States.

Trump had campaigned to return to his duties, swearing that he could take advantage of his personal relationship with Putin developed during his first mandate to end the war in “24 hours”.

But Trump says that his patience was slim with daily reports of Ukrainian civilian victims of Russian attacks.

“I go home, I say to the First Lady:” You know, I spoke to Vladimir today. We had a wonderful conversation. “And she said,” Oh really?

That same day, Trump announced a gross change in his policy towards Russia.

He said the United States had entered into an agreement to sell American manufacturing weapons to the NATO allies in Europe, which would then send us weapons in Ukraine.

He also warned that Russia had 50 days to end the war or face new “severe” economic sanctions. He said it included “secondary prices” on countries buying Russian products.

Soon, Trump increased his ultimatum, announcing last week that Russia had “10 or 12 days” before making peace. Finally, it took place this Friday as a deadline.

Trump explained that the plan is hungry for the Russian War Machine for fuel income.

When he was asked later if there was a way for Russia to avoid additional economic pressure, Trump told journalists on Tuesday: “Yes, get an agreement where people stop being killed.”

Trump also wondered if penalties could push Russia to change course. “You know, they are cunning characters and they are good enough to avoid sanctions,” said Trump.

Russia increases their shoulders

Putin has largely avoided treating Trump’s threats and criticisms in public, breaking his silence until last week with a brief veiled reference to the American chief.

“All disappointments arise from swollen expectations, as the saying says,” Putin told journalists last Friday after a visit to a monastery in northwestern Russia.

“In order to solve the problem peacefully,” continued Putin, “we need deep conversations, not in public, but in the calm of the calm of the negotiation process.”

After Trump announced the shortened deadline for a peace agreement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow “noted” comments from the American chief.

Peskov has minimized economic threats, saying that the Russian economy had developed widely “away” from Western pressure after more than three years of sanctions.

Trump heats up in Ukraine

While President Trump has increasingly criticized Russia, his relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has improved considerably since they had an argument for the White House in February.

In the latest sign, Zelenskyy said on social media on Tuesday that he had a “productive conversation” with Trump on the eve of Witkoff’s trip to Moscow.

“Of course, we talked about sanctions against Russia,” said Zelenskyy. “Their economy continues to decrease, and that’s exactly why Moscow is so sensitive to this prospect and the determination of President Trump.”

Zelenskyy also announced that four European countries have agreed to buy American weapons and send them to Ukraine as part of the arrangement that Trump announced last month.

“We already have commitments from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Denmark – more than a billion dollars for the American weapons that Ukraine will receive. Thank you! This cooperation with NATO countries will continue,” said Zelenskyy.

The Netherlands said that it would send American missiles and other parts for American air defense systems already in Ukraine, assessing aid to more than $ 500 million.

Patriotic batteries are the most effective means of Ukraine to shoot down incoming Russian missiles. Ukrainians say they need additional missiles so that the patriotic batteries defend themselves against the climbing of Russian air strikes.

“This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression,” wrote Dutch Minister Ruben Brekelmans on X. wrote.

Sweden, Norway and Denmark say they have also agreed to support a set of American weapons, it for just under $ 500 million. There was no immediate word on which the American weapons they would send to Ukraine.

Trump came into office in January saying that he was opposed to additional American military aid for Ukraine. But at the meeting of the White House with Rutte, Trump said that he supported the NATO countries which bought American weapons, then sent them to Ukraine.

Greg myre of NPR contributed the Kyiv reports, in Ukraine.