In a significant diplomatic development, United States President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has held direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to a report by the local media.
Putin was seen on Russian state television welcoming Witkoff at the presidential library in Saint Petersburg, where the two engaged in a lengthy negotiation that reportedly lasted over four hours.
The meeting is being viewed as a potential shift in the dynamics of US-Russia relations under Trump’s renewed presidency.
The Kremlin issued a brief statement following the discussions, stating that the talks focused on “various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement.” However, no further details were made public regarding the substance or outcome of the meeting.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov earlier mentioned that the possibility of a direct meeting between President Trump and President Putin could be on the agenda.
Such a meeting, if it occurs, would mark the first in-person encounter between the two leaders since Trump began his second term in January.
Steve Witkoff, a prominent businessman and now a central figure in the Trump administration’s diplomatic outreach, has become instrumental in the ongoing, yet inconsistent, dialogue between Moscow and Washington.
Reports suggest that Russian officials have expressed interest in discussing potential joint investments with the United States, particularly in the Arctic region and in sectors related to Russian rare earth minerals.
The talks take place against the backdrop of the United States’ efforts to broker a ceasefire agreement aimed at halting the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
These efforts have so far struggled to gain traction, with key terms of the deal still under contention.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff’s visit to Russia is a part of the Trump administration’s broader strategy to negotiate a ceasefire.
She described the envoy’s visit as “a step towards the negotiating process for the ceasefire as well as an ultimate peace deal.”
Leavitt also highlighted President Trump’s growing frustration with both Russia and Ukraine over the slow progress in reaching a resolution.
She suggested that Trump is now keen on playing a more direct role in securing peace, even as previous attempts to obtain meaningful concessions from Moscow have not yet borne fruit.
Despite multiple rounds of discussions between Russian and US officials, a concrete agreement remains elusive. President Trump has been pushing both Moscow and Kyiv to consider a ceasefire framework, but diplomatic hurdles continue to impede progress.
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