Behind the scenes: US envoy engages Putin in pivotal talks
The meeting between Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff, the envoy of US President Donald Trump, lasted three hours and was described as constructive, according to Putin's advisor, Yuri Ushakov, as quoted by the TASS agency.
What you need to know?
- US President's envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Vladimir Putin on Friday.
- Previously, Witkoff had already met with Putin three times, indicating a continuation of dialogue between the US and Russia.
- The talks aim to end the war in Ukraine, which began in 2022. Previous meetings have not led to breakthrough results.
Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's envoy, discussed, among other topics, the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, stated Putin's advisor Yuri Ushakov, as quoted by the TASS news agency.
As Ushakov added, the three-hour conversation between Putin and Witkoff "led to a convergence of positions between Russia and the United States not only regarding Ukraine but also on other issues."
The White House and the Kremlin previously reported that US-Russia talks would continue this week. The visit was first announced by Putin's advisor, Yuri Ushakov, and then by White House Press Secretary, Caroline Levitt.
A friend of Trump who "knows nothing about Russia or Ukraine"?
The Russian edition of BBC News, in a portrait published on Friday of Steve Witkoff, assessed that US foreign policy is now shaped not by diplomats and experts but by close associates of President Donald Trump. It quoted critical opinions suggesting that Witkoff "knows nothing about Russia or Ukraine".
Former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton, in an interview with the BBC, criticized Steve Witkoff, stating that, to his knowledge, Witkoff lacks understanding of Russia, Ukraine, their history, armed conflicts, and the complexities of negotiating a potential truce. Bolton added that during several meetings with Putin, Witkoff appeared highly susceptible to manipulation.
