Witkoff meets with Putin over war in Ukraine, no ceasefire agreements announced
Little seems to have been accomplished from the three-hour meeting in the way of securing a peace deal, or even circumventing the threatened sanctions by Trump that Putin now stares down, though according to Russian foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, the meeting was described as "useful and constructive."
Ushakov said Putin "received some signals from Trump" and "sent some signals," but he did not elaborate on any specifics.
The advisor also told reporters that Putin and Witkoff had discussed developing the "strategic partnership" between the U.S. and Russia but did not elaborate how. The comment came after Witkoff was spotted earlier in the day taking a walk near the Kremlin with Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president's envoy for investment and economic cooperation.
Witkoff and Putin met shortly before noon in Moscow, according to the timestamp released by the Kremlin which accompanied an image of Putin and Witkoff smiling and shaking hands as Russian foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov looked on.
Witkoff's team did not respond to Fox News Digital's questions on what the envoy was hoping to accomplish in his meeting with Putin, though some reporting this week suggested he may look to secure a moratorium on air strikes.
Witkoff traveled to Moscow in a last-ditch effort to get Putin to capitulate to Trump's and Western calls for an end to the war, though the Kremlin chief was not expected to make great concessions in ending his war ambitions ahead of the trip.
In mid-July, while seated next to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump promised to enforce "very severe" tariffs on Russia if Putin does not enter into a deal with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy within 50 days.
"Tariffs at about 100%, you'd call them secondary tariffs," he had said, implying that nations who trade with Russia will see 100% tariffs slapped on them when trading with the U.S.
He then pushed the date up to within 10 days of July 29, forcing the new deadline for Friday.
But on Tuesday Trump walked back his 100% tariff threat amid tough trade talks with India and China, and said, "I never said a percentage."
"We'll see what happens over the next fairly short period of time," he added in response to questions from reporters. "We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow. We're going to see what happens.
"We'll make that determination at that time," he added.
The tariffs would most drastically target China and India, which are the largest purchasers of Russian oil, though high tariffs on those nations, both of which are major traders with the U.S., would also mean higher prices for the American consumer.
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Vladamir Putin is indicted by the International Criminal Court, accused of ordering the theft of thousands of children from Ukraine to be sold to childless couples in Russia. This charge is just the tip of a massive iceberg, and the war crimes of using chemical weapons and directly targeting civilians must surely be added. With others, I hunted down the evidence that Putin's 'puppet' in Syria, Bashar Al Assad was using chemical weapons against his own population, perhaps under the direction or certainly the knowledge of Putin, and the German government will arrest Assad on this charge, if he ever leaves the Kremlin's clutches. Hence, Putin should be arrested when he touches down in Alaska to meet the US president on Friday – not feted and lauded like some conquering hero, who seems to have a worryingly beguiling hold over the greatest dealmaker on the planet. The Russian leader has again stated that he has no interest in a peace deal which does not come with a huge swathe of Ukraine, some already illegally annexed and some still very much in Ukrainian hands. This is pretty minimalistic from the Russian dictator, as the original aim of his Special Military Operation was the complete subjugation of Ukraine. A few weeks ago, an article from the Russian State news agency RIA Novosti was headlined 'There is no other option: no one in Ukraine should be left alive', under a chilling image of the Grim Reaper hovering over destroyed Ukrainian tanks, below an apocalyptic red sky. This leaves doubt as to the aims of the Russian tyrant, whatever guff he might be peddling to the US leader. President Trump should know, or at least must be briefed on the Budapest Memorandum which the US, the UK and Russia signed in 1994 'guaranteeing' the safety and the integrity of the borders of Ukraine, in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. What Trump and Putin appear to be suggesting as the basis for their discussions in Alaska is in direct contravention of this treaty. I agree with Ben Wallace, the excellent former defence minister, that if Zelensky is not in Alaska, then the UK's Prime Minister should be there to ensure that the Budapest Memorandum is adhered to in word and deed – and the 'gangster' and the 'real estate king', don't hatch some dreadful deal that completely ignores the rights and will of the Ukrainian people. So, President Trump, if you are the greatest dealmaker in the universe then arrest Putin in Alaska and the war in Ukraine will end on Friday. No doubt there are many in the Kremlin and certainly most of the Russian population who would support this, with their economy in freefall and the rank and file barely able to feed themselves. Those with money cannot travel to their previously beloved Mediterranean beach resorts, and even flying to Russian holiday spots is often disrupted by Ukrainian cyber and drone attacks. Russia might be making a few small gains on the frontlines in Ukraine, but Ukraine is making massive strategic gains deep in Russia, destroying 17 per cent of its oil industry, routinely grounding flights and destroying armaments factories. With a bit more help Mr President, they could probably send Mr Putin packing themselves! The US president must understand that Ukraine is not losing this war and Russia is not winning it, so he must not appease Putin for an easy peace deal to enhance his rather obnoxious desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. The only acceptable peace deal is one that is 'just' and acceptable to President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people – and at the moment neither appear to be represented in Alaska where their fate may well be determined. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
