Putin and Trump Envoy Witkoff Hold Kremlin Meeting s Ukraine Ceasefire Deadline Approaches

Russian media reports indicate that a meeting is currently taking place at the Kremlin between Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff, who serves as Donald Trump’s special envoy.

Witkoff’s Wednesday arrival in Moscow comes as Trump’s ultimatum for Russia to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine approaches its deadline.

Trump has warned that Russia may face substantial sanctions, or that secondary sanctions could be applied to all countries conducting trade with Russia, unless it takes action to halt what he calls the “horrible war” with Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned that Russia will only pursue genuine peace negotiations when it faces financial constraints.

He has expressed support for the prospect of stricter US sanctions and tariffs targeting countries that purchase Russian oil.

Related: Trump Disappointed With Putin, Plans To Reduce 50-Day Ceasefire Deadline

Russian media outlets published photographs showing the two men, who have held multiple previous meetings, appearing cordial as they smiled and exchanged handshakes in an ornate hall.

There is limited optimism regarding the possibility of reaching a settlement by Friday, as Russia has maintained its extensive aerial bombardment of Ukraine even amid Trump’s sanction threats.

Prior to assuming office in January, Trump had boasted he could resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 24 hours. This promise went unfulfilled, and he has since expressed frustration over the absence of meaningful progress, with his language concerning Russia becoming increasingly stern.

“We thought we had (the war) settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever,” Trump said last month.

Three separate negotiation sessions between Ukrainian and Russian representatives in Istanbul have not succeeded in bringing the conflict, which began three-and-a-half years ago with Moscow’s comprehensive invasion, any closer to resolution.

The military and political terms Moscow has set for peace continue to be rejected by Kyiv and its Western allies. The Kremlin has also consistently declined Kyiv’s appeals for direct talks between Zelensky and Putin.

In related developments, the US administration greenlit an additional $200 million in military sales to Ukraine on Tuesday after a telephone conversation between Zelensky and Trump, during which both leaders also addressed defense collaboration and drone manufacturing.