Russia aims to undermine US push for Putin’s role in Ukraine peace talks – ISW

Experts noted that some Russian commentators are trying to provoke a split within the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The goal is to avoid US sanctions ahead of the August 8 deadline announced by the White House leader for peace agreements in Ukraine.

According to them, Russian state media and pro-Kremlin publications have disseminated comments by members of the Russian State Duma who have positioned Steve Witkoff as a rational participant in the negotiations between the US and Russia, and Trump as irrational.

What Russian speakers said

On August 4, State Duma deputy Grigory Karasin said he hoped for concrete, not emotional, statements as Trump's latest statements result from Witkoff's meeting with Putin. Russian media reinforced this comment by the parliamentarian in their reports on the meeting between Witkoff and Trump on August 6.

First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Aleksei Chepa said on August 6 that Trump sent Witkoff to ease tensions after the American leader recently issued ultimatums that Russia must end the war or face US sanctions. In particular, Chepa noted that this smoothing over could negatively affect the image of the Trump administration.

Russian military blogger Alexander Kots, who is also a member of the Kremlin's Human Rights Council, accused the US president of issuing ultimatums daily and suggested that Witkoff would bring Trump a proposal that he would perceive as a small victory.

Division and disruption of negotiations

The Institute for the Study of War believes that the Kremlin often attempts to provoke division between Ukraine and its allies, as well as between the US and Europe, as part of a broader effort to weaken support for Ukraine.

According to experts, the Kremlin is using similar information tactics against the Trump administration to undermine Washington's current efforts to force Vladimir Putin to participate in important negotiations to end the war.

"The Kremlin also likely aims to coerce unilateral concessions from the United States regarding the war, including fostering US-Russian economic deals in Russia's favor without Trump's stated preconditions of a ceasefire and negotiations for an enduring peace," the ISW believes.

Negotiations to end Russia's war against Ukraine

August 8 marks the end of US President Donald Trump's 10-day deadline for Russia to end the war in Ukraine.

As part of Washington's diplomatic efforts, US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on an official visit on August 6. The official held talks with Vladimir Putin, but the details are currently unknown.

Following the meeting, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the US was close to ending the war in Ukraine and had a better understanding of Russia's conditions.

Trump announced his intention to meet with Vladimir Putin next week if it would speed up the end of the war.

However, according to sources, it is impossible to prepare a meeting between the American and Russian leaders in such a short time. Several options are being considered for the venue of the talks between the two presidents.