Putin meets with Witkoff - First details revealed
Photo: US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin during a visit to Moscow, just days before the August 8 deadline set by President Donald Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, according to RBC-Ukraine.
Updated at 16:00. Witkoff has left the territory of the US Embassy in Moscow. He did not respond to questions from the press waiting for him outside the diplomatic mission building.
The meeting between Trump's Special Envoy and the Russian President lasted about 3 hours.
Afterward, according to pro-Kremlin media reports, Witkoff arrived at the US Embassy in Moscow.
The Russian side has already issued a brief statement.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russian President Vladimir Putin's investment envoy, who met the American politician at the airport in the morning, commented on the talks between Putin and Witkoff as follows: "Dialogue will prevail."
Putin's office also stated that Ukraine was discussed with Witkoff "first of all."
Putin's envoy, who had previously taken part in past negotiations with the United States and was present today at the Putin-Witkoff meeting, called the conversation "useful and constructive."
"If we name the topics, then first of all, of course, it's the Ukrainian crisis (Russia's war against Ukraine - ed.). And the second topic is the prospects for possible development of strategic cooperation between the US and Russia," Ushakov stated.
He also added that Russia had sent signals to the US regarding "the Ukrainian issue" and had received signals from Trump as well.
What we know about Witkoff's visit to Moscow
The visit of Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow was the fifth since Donald Trump returned to the White House.
Witkoff's plane was recorded arriving at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport at 7:00 a.m. Kyiv time. After meeting with Dmitriev, the American Envoy's motorcade headed to Putin's residence.
Only closer to noon, reports officially confirmed that the meeting in the Kremlin had begun. Also present was Yuri Ushakov, Aide to the Russian President and negotiator in contacts with the United States.
This time, the key intrigue is whether the Kremlin will make any concessions in the war against Ukraine. Trump has set a deadline for Putin: agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine by August 8, or face a new wave of sanctions pressure.
Among the possible US measures: secondary sanctions against countries that continue buying Russian oil; 100% tariffs, including for China and India (the latter is already subject to a 25% tariff); restrictions on the shadow fleet - tankers that transport oil while bypassing sanctions.
Trump has also suggested that a $10-per-barrel drop in oil prices would make continuing the war economically impossible for the Kremlin.
According to Bloomberg, the Kremlin may offer a temporary pause in air attacks, no drones or missiles, as an alternative option. This kind of sky ceasefire is reportedly being considered as a gesture to the US, but not as a real step toward ending the war.
Meanwhile, according to Reuters, Putin has no intention of backing down - his goals regarding the occupation of four Ukrainian regions remain unchanged.
As Financial Times sources note, the results of this Witkoff trip will be decisive for the next moves of the US. The White House makes no secret of it: if the Special Envoy returns without concrete agreements, "Trump will be furious."
The US President may announce his decision as early as tonight at 11:30 p.m. Kyiv time - this is when his address from the Oval Office is scheduled.
To find out more about Witkoff's visit to Moscow and the events leading up to it, check out our material on the topic.
