US envoy Steve Witkoff held a lengthy meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St Petersburg, amid growing pressure from Donald Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.
The over four-hour meeting reportedly focused on efforts toward a Ukrainian settlement. It was the third time this year Witkoff has met with Putin, and discussions were described as productive by special envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Trump, expressing frustration over the stalled negotiations, posted on social media urging Russia to act quickly, citing the high human cost of the ongoing war.
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Meanwhile, Trump’s Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg pushed back against claims he suggested partitioning Ukraine. He clarified that his comments about deploying Western troops in Ukraine referred to a post-ceasefire stabilization force and not a division of the country.
On the same day, European countries pledged €21 billion in military aid to Ukraine, emphasizing that the conflict showed no signs of ending. Prior to the Witkoff-Putin meeting, Kremlin officials had warned not to expect major breakthroughs, as diplomatic normalization remains a work in progress.
Witkoff also met with Dmitriev before the talks, at a conference held in St Petersburg. Dmitriev recently returned from a visit to Washington, the first by a high-ranking Russian official since the 2022 invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a visit to his hometown of Kryvyi Rih—recently struck by a deadly missile attack—accused Russia of dragging out the war and claimed that Chinese nationals were fighting alongside Russian troops. He said Ukraine had captured two Chinese citizens and suggested that hundreds more might be involved.
Zelensky laid flowers in memory of the victims of the attack, including several children, and renewed his plea for advanced air defence systems. He stated that Ukraine is not only requesting these systems but is prepared to purchase them to protect its cities and citizens.
Trump reiterated his belief that the war would not have occurred had he been in office in 2022, and claimed he could end the conflict in 24 hours if given the chance.
Efforts to restore dialogue between the US and Russia have resumed, including recent direct meetings in Saudi Arabia. However, a proposed Black Sea ceasefire initiative fell apart when Russia demanded the removal of international sanctions.
Tensions between Trump and Zelensky have also persisted, with a recent confrontation between the two leaders reportedly taking place in the Oval Office.
Despite the obstacles, both nations continue diplomatic engagements. Earlier in the week, the US and Russia completed a prisoner swap. A Russian-American woman imprisoned for donating to a Ukrainian cause was exchanged for a German-Russian citizen accused of illegally exporting sensitive electronics to Russia.
As fighting continues, Ukraine has confirmed its forces are operating in Russia’s Belgorod region. The UK also announced an additional £450 million in military support for Ukraine.