Putin, US Envoy Witkoff Meet in Moscow ahead of Ukraine Ceasefire Deadline
According to Russian news agency TASS, the meeting lasted for around 3 hours, with the presence of Russian Presidential Aide, Yury Ushakov, who described the meeting as 'useful and constructive.'
Earlier on Wednesday, Witkoff arrived in Moscow, where he was received by the Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO and special presidential envoy for economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev. The two officials also had a walk in Zaryadye Park in downtown Moscow. Deadline Looming
Witkoff's visit to Russia marks the fifth since the start of the year. It came two days ahead of the deadline set by the US President, Donald Trump, for Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump threatened Moscow with new economic sanctions if it did not reach a ceasefire Ukraine by August 8. He also threatened heavy tariffs on countries that buy Russian exports, particularly India and China – two of the largest Russian oil buyers. Putin's Options
Putin seemed to be unmoved by Trump's threats, insisting that his demands to end the war in Ukraine remained unchanged and signaling that the war's momentum was in Russia's favor. It was not clear what he might propose to Witkoff to avert Trump's threats.
One of the options could be proposing a moratorium on air strikes by Russia and Ukraine, Reuters reported citing Bloomberg and independent Russian news outlet The Bell. Although this would not meet the US' demand of a full and immediate ceasefire, it might offer some relief to both sides. Anti-Submarine Drill
In a separate development, Russia and China conducted an anti-submarine exercise in the Sea of Japan – days after Trump said he had moved nuclear submarines closer to Russia. The exercise was part of a broader series of joint naval drills.
On Wednesday, Russia's Defense Ministry said that the Russian and Chinese navies have practiced hunting and destroying an enemy submarine. 'As a result of effective joint actions, the 'enemy' submarine was promptly detected and mock-destroyed,' it said in a statement.
Trump's decision to reposition nuclear submarines followed an online row with Russia's former president and the deputy chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev.
Short link :
Post Views: 12
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leaders
21 minutes ago
- Leaders
Trump, Putin May Meet Next Week to Discuss Ukraine Peace
President Donald Trump could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, according to a White House official, as the US plans to impose secondary sanctions on Russia, aiming to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. This meeting would mark the first face-to-face encounter between a sitting US president and Putin since Joe Biden's meeting in Geneva in June 2021, eight months before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, the largest attack on a European nation since World War II. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have not met since December 2019 and openly express disdain for each other. The New York Times reported that Trump informed European leaders during a call on Wednesday about his intention to meet with Putin. He also plans a trilateral meeting involving Zelenskiy. Moreover, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed, 'The Russians expressed their desire to meet with President Trump, and the President is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelenskiy.' Progress in Talks A German government spokesperson stated that Trump updated European leaders on the status of talks with Russia during a call with the German chancellor, following a meeting between Putin and US special envoy Steve Witkoff, which Trump described as achieving 'great progress.' However, this development comes just two days before Trump's deadline for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or face new sanctions. Trump has expressed frustration with Putin over the lack of progress and threatened heavy tariffs on countries purchasing Russian exports, including oil. Despite positive discussions, the White House official confirmed that secondary sanctions against countries doing business with Russia are still set to be implemented on Friday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized the need for further efforts to reach an agreement, stating, 'Today was a good day, but we have a lot of work ahead.' Furthermore, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov noted that both sides exchanged 'signals' regarding Ukraine and discussed potential strategic cooperation but he withheld further details until Witkoff reported back to Trump. Zelenskiy's Optimism Zelenskiy expressed cautious optimism, declaring that pressure on Russia seems to be working, stating, 'It seems that Russia is now more inclined to a ceasefire. The pressure on them works.' He urged that both Ukraine and the US must not be misled by Russia's intentions. On Wednesday, Trump took a significant step toward punitive measures by imposing a 25% tariff on imports from India due to its continued purchases of Russian oil, raising tariffs on some Indian goods to as high as 50%, among the steepest faced by any US trading partner. The Kremlin has condemned these threats as illegal. Consequently, reports suggest that the Kremlin might propose a moratorium on airstrikes by both Russia and Ukraine, a suggestion made by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. While this would not fulfill the full ceasefire sought by Ukraine and the US, it could provide some relief. As tensions continue, the prospect of a Trump-Putin meeting raises hopes for progress in the ongoing conflict. However, skepticism remains regarding the effectiveness of sanctions and the willingness of both leaders to compromise. Short link : Post Views: 6
Leaders
2 hours ago
- Leaders
Sudan's Army Claims destroying UAE Aircraft, Killing 40 Mercenaries
Sudan's air force has successfully destroyed an Emirati aircraft carrying Colombian mercenaries as the plane landed at a paramilitary-controlled airport in Darfur. According to army-aligned state TV, the attack killed at least 40 individuals. A military source, who spoke to AFP on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that the UAE plane 'was bombed and completely destroyed' at Nyala airport in Darfur. The Nyala airport has faced repeated airstrikes from the Sudanese army as part of the ongoing conflict with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), which has persisted since April 2023. Currently, there has been no immediate comment from either the RSF or the United Arab Emirates regarding this incident. Colombia's President Gustavo Petro stated that his government is working to determine how many Colombians died in the attack, expressing a commitment to 'see if we can bring their bodies back' through a post on the social media platform X. Allegations Against the UAE State TV reported that the aircraft had taken off from a Gulf airbase, carrying dozens of foreign fighters and military equipment intended for the RSF, which controls nearly all of Darfur. The Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has long accused the UAE of supplying advanced weaponry, including drones, to the RSF via Nyala airport. Despite these allegations, Abu Dhabi has denied any wrongdoing, with numerous reports from UN experts, US political officials, and international organizations support these claims. Satellite images released by Yale University's Humanitarian Research Lab have revealed multiple Chinese-made long-range drones at the airport in South Darfur's capital. In June, three witnesses informed AFP that a cargo plane was bombed shortly after landing at Nyala airport. On Monday, Sudan's army-aligned government accused the UAE of recruiting and funding Colombian mercenaries to fight for the RSF. They claimed to possess documents that substantiate these allegations. Reports of Colombian fighters in Darfur date back to late 2024 and have been confirmed by UN experts. Colombian Mercenaries in Darfur This week, the Joint Forces, a pro-army coalition in Darfur, reported over 80 Colombian mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF in El-Fasher. This city remains the last Darfur state capital under army control. The coalition stated that several mercenaries were reportedly killed during the RSF's latest offensive, which involved drone and artillery operations. The army also released video footage purportedly showing 'foreign mercenaries believed to be from Colombia.' However, AFP has not been able to verify the authenticity of these videos. In December, Sudan reported that Colombia's foreign ministry expressed regret for the involvement of some of its citizens in the ongoing war. Colombian mercenaries, many of whom are former soldiers and guerrillas, have participated in various global conflicts. Previously, they were hired by the UAE for operations in Yemen and the Gulf. In his post on Wednesday, President Petro announced his intention to ban mercenary activity. He condemned this practice, calling it 'a trade in men turned into commodities to kill.' Sudan's war, now in its third year, has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and displaced 13 million people. The conflict has plunged the nation into the world's worst hunger and displacement crisis. Short link : Post Views: 16
Al Arabiya
3 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Agreement reached to hold Putin-Trump meeting in coming days, Kremlin aide says
An agreement has been reached to hold a meeting between Russia's President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in the coming days, and both parties have begun working on the details, Reuters reported on Thursday citing iFax.
