Discussions between the US and Russia regarding the war in Ukraine commenced Wednesday morning, just before President Trump’s deadline to “secure a deal to prevent further casualties.”
U.S. Middle Eastern envoy Steve Witkov arrived in the Kremlin on Wednesday after an overnight flight to Russia. Carrying a notebook featuring the presidential seal, Witkov greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin before beginning face-to-face discussions.
The talks between Witkov and Putin are reportedly ongoing. They have met multiple times before, including four previous in-person meetings in Moscow, with their last encounter occurring in April.
This morning, the Kremlin announced that Witkov had met with Putin’s investment advisor. Dmitriev, who received his education in the U.S., recently had sanctions lifted, allowing him to visit Washington, D.C. and reportedly promote American business opportunities.
The current discussions appear to be an effort to find a definitive solution for peace in Ukraine. Despite ongoing negotiations throughout the year, real progress has not been achieved so far. This lack of movement has notably frustrated President Trump, who has shifted from initial optimism to a more confrontational stance.
Last week, President Trump indicated he instructed the relocation of two U.S. nuclear submarines to regions near Russia in an attempt to maintain cordial relations with Moscow. His deadline to finalize a deal that would “stop people from being killed” is set for Friday, August 8th. If Russia continues to refuse genuine participation in the peace process, they could face severe secondary tariffs.
While direct tariffs on Russia have had limited repercussions, President Trump has stated he intends to penalize Russia’s trading partners, urging them to sever ties with illicit states to preserve better trade relations with the U.S.
Breitbart previously reported about Trump’s newly established deadline.
Trump mentioned how First Lady Melania Trump serves as a grounding influence when he becomes deeply immersed in the peace talks over Ukraine.
“I talk to [Putin a lot]… I often hang up saying, ‘That was a good call,’ then missiles get launched into Kiev,” Trump recounted. Melania responded, “Oh, really? Another city just got attacked.”
As for tariffs aimed at Russian global customers and the broader Russian economy, President Trump noted that Vladimir Putin expressed unhappiness, claiming he is willing to discuss peace yet fails to take action. Regarding potential sanctions against Russia’s global trading partners, Trump stated: “We’re implementing serious duties. If we don’t reach a transaction in 50 days, secondary duties will follow. It’s straightforward, and it’ll be enforced 100%.”
