Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with U.S. President Donald Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, the Kremlin mentioned, days earlier than the White Home’s deadline for Russia to succeed in a peace cope with Ukraine or doubtlessly face extreme financial penalties that might additionally hit international locations shopping for its oil.
The Kremlin didn’t instantly present extra particulars of the assembly. Earlier, Witkoff took an early morning stroll by Zaryadye Park, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin, with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s envoy for funding and financial cooperation, footage aired by TASS confirmed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump’s particular envoy Steve Witkoff shake palms throughout their assembly on the Kremlin, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Picture through AP
Dmitriev performed a key position in three rounds of direct talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in current months, in addition to discussions between Russian and U.S. officers. The negotiations made no progress on ending the three-year battle following Russia’s invasion of its neighbor.
Trump’s deadline for Putin ends on Friday. Washington has threatened “extreme tariffs” and different financial penalties if the killing does not cease.
Trump has expressed rising frustration with Putin over Russia’s escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, supposed to erode morale and public urge for food for the battle. The intensified assaults have occurred whilst Trump has urged the Russian chief in current months to relent.
In a single day from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces hit a leisure heart in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia area, killing two individuals and injuring 12, together with two youngsters, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov mentioned Wednesday.
Russian forces launched no less than 4 strikes on the world and initially attacked with highly effective glide bombs.
“There may be zero navy sense on this strike. Solely cruelty to intimidate,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned in a put up on Telegram.
Russia additionally struck the Ukrainian energy grid and heating gasoline amenities, Zelenskyy mentioned, as Ukraine makes preparations for winter.
Western analysts and Ukrainian officers say Putin is stalling for time and avoiding severe negotiations whereas Russian forces push to seize extra Ukraine land. A Russian offensive that began within the spring and is predicted to proceed by the autumn is advancing quicker than final yr’s push however is making solely sluggish and expensive good points and has been unable to take any main cities.
The state of affairs on the entrance line is vital for Ukrainian forces however defenses should not about to break down, analysts say.
On Tuesday, Trump mentioned “we’ll see what occurs” relating to his risk to slap tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil, which may enhance import taxes dramatically on China and India.
“We have now a gathering with Russia tomorrow,” Trump mentioned. “We’ll see what occurs. We’ll make that willpower at the moment.”
The president mentioned that he has not publicly dedicated to a selected tariff fee.
Stepping up diplomatic and financial stress on the Kremlin dangers stoking worldwide tensions amid worsening Russia-U.S. relations.
The Washington-based Heart for European Coverage Evaluation warned in an evaluation this week that there are “clear indicators that the Kremlin is making ready for a broader confrontation with NATO,” together with a navy build-up alongside Russia’s western flank with alliance international locations in recent times.
Putin has strengthened Russia’s navy ties with China, North Korea and Iran. NATO, in the meantime, mentioned Tuesday it has began coordinating common deliveries of enormous Western weapons packages to Ukraine. European allies and Canada are shopping for many of the gear they plan to move from the USA. The Trump administration shouldn’t be donating any arms to Ukraine.
Putin has given no trace that he may be able to make concessions. As an alternative, the Russian chief and senior Kremlin officers have talked up the nation’s navy power.
Putin introduced final week that Russia’s new hypersonic missile, which he says can’t be intercepted by present NATO air protection programs, has entered service.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, meantime, warned that the Ukraine battle may deliver Russia and the U.S. into armed battle. Trump responded to that by ordering the repositioning of two U.S. nuclear submarines.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday welcomed Witkoff’s go to. “We take into account (talks with Witkoff) necessary, substantive and really helpful,” he mentioned.
Trump initially gave Moscow a 50-day deadline, however later moved up his ultimatum because the Kremlin continued to bomb Ukrainian cities.
Nonetheless, Trump himself doubted their effectiveness, saying Sunday that Russia has confirmed to be “fairly good at avoiding sanctions.”
“They’re wily characters,” he mentioned of the Russians.
The Kremlin has insisted that worldwide sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of its neighbor have had a restricted affect.
Ukraine maintains the sanctions are taking their toll on Moscow’s battle machine and needs Western allies to ramp them up.
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