In an important development, US envoy Steve Witkoff has met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. This meeting comes just days before Donald Trump’s deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. The high-level talks lasted around three hours, according to Russian media, after Witkoff arrived in Moscow early Wednesday.
The Daily news highlights show that this meeting could be a turning point in the war — but expectations for an immediate peace deal remain low.
Trump’s Warning to Russia
US President Donald Trump has been clear about his position. He has warned that Russia could face heavy sanctions if it refuses to take serious steps toward ending what he calls the “horrible war” in Ukraine. These sanctions could also include secondary penalties on other countries that continue to trade with Russia.
- Economic pressure on Russia: Trump is threatening to block trade for nations helping Moscow.
- Impact on global trade: Countries buying Russian oil, such as China and India, could face tariffs.
- Push for peace: The goal is to weaken Russia’s ability to finance the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed Trump’s stance, saying Russia would only move towards peace if it starts running out of money.
No Sign of a Ceasefire Yet
Despite the meeting, there is little hope for a quick peace deal. Russia has continued heavy air attacks on Ukraine, even after Trump’s threats.
Before becoming president in January, Trump had claimed he could end the war in one day. However, after months in office, no breakthrough has been achieved. His frustration is growing, and his public statements about Putin have become tougher.
“We thought we had the war settled many times, and then President Putin starts launching rockets into cities like Kyiv, killing innocent people,” Trump recently said.
Past Peace Talks Have Failed
This is not the first time peace efforts have been tried. Three rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul ended without success. The war has now dragged on for more than three and a half years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
- Unacceptable demands: Russia’s conditions for peace remain impossible for Ukraine and Western nations to accept.
- No Zelensky-Putin meeting: The Kremlin has refused repeated requests for a direct meeting between the two leaders.
US Military Support to Ukraine
While peace talks stall, the United States is increasing military aid. Just this week, the US approved $200 million in extra military sales to Ukraine. This decision followed a phone call between Trump and Zelensky, during which they also discussed defence cooperation and producing more drones.
Ukraine has been using drones to attack Russian refineries and energy facilities, while Russia continues to strike Ukrainian cities from the air.
Deadly Attacks Continue
Sadly, the violence has not stopped. The Kyiv City Military Administration confirmed that the death toll from a recent strike on the capital has risen to 32, making it the deadliest attack on Kyiv since the start of the invasion.
In another attack, Ukrainian officials reported that two people were killed and 12 injured when Russian forces targeted a holiday camp in the Zaporizhzhia region.
President Zelensky condemned the attack:
“There’s no military reason for this. It’s just cruelty to scare people.”
The next few days will be critical in deciding whether Trump’s threats of economic punishment will push Moscow closer to ending the war — or whether the conflict will continue to escalate.
