US envoy Witkoff and Putin hold ‘constructive’ talks on Ukraine
In this pool photograph distributed by Russian state agency Sputnik, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (R) greets US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (L) prior to their talks in Moscow, Russia on April 25, 2025. (AFP Photo)
United States presidential envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a “constructive and useful” three-hour meeting on Friday, the Kremlin said, focusing on the potential for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters that the discussions in Moscow were “very useful” and added that dialogue between Russia and the United States would continue at various levels in the “most active mode.”
The meeting also addressed the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv, which have been stalled since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
“There was a discussion on the possibility of renewing direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine,” Ushakov said. He also noted that the talks helped bring U.S. and Russian positions on Ukraine closer together, while touching on other international matters.
Trump pushes for cease-fire, Talks Show Few Results
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been advocating for a cease-fire in the ongoing conflict, has so far struggled to secure meaningful concessions from Putin. The meeting between Witkoff and Putin occurred one day after a Russian airstrike killed 12 people in Kyiv and a car bomb killed a Russian general, an attack the Kremlin blamed on Ukraine.
Despite U.S. efforts, the ongoing conflict, which has now lasted for three years, has yielded few results and continues to frustrate Trump.
Witkoff, a billionaire real estate investor and one of Trump’s most trusted aides, has played a key role in Washington’s peace efforts but has made several comments that have angered Ukraine.
Ukraine fears unfair deal
Kyiv and its European allies are concerned that Moscow and Washington may strike an unfair deal for Ukraine. Witkoff’s visit also comes amid heightened tensions over U.S. proposals for peace.
Trump, who has faced accusations of favoring Russia, threatened to abandon talks if there is no progress on a cease-fire. In a post on social media Thursday, Trump wrote: “Vladimir, STOP!” adding, “Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!”
U.S. officials have not revealed specific details of their peace plan but have suggested freezing the front lines and allowing Russia to maintain control over Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, in exchange for peace.
Trump, in an interview with TIME magazine, said, “Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the notion of ceding Crimea to Russia but has recently acknowledged that diplomacy may be needed to secure the return of some territory once a cease-fire is reached.
Zelensky has expressed frustration at the lack of Western “pressure” on Putin, despite U.S. warnings of repercussions if Moscow rejects a deal.
On Friday, he claimed that a missile fired by Russia at Kyiv contained components from U.S. firms, alleging that countries supporting Russia are accomplices in its aggression.
Putin last month rejected a U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional cease-fire, which Zelensky has repeatedly called for since the conflict began. Trump, who has often criticized Zelensky, said Thursday that Russia’s main concession in any peace deal would be “stopping taking the whole country.”
Moscow currently occupies around 20% of Ukraine and has attempted to annex four other Ukrainian regions in addition to Crimea.
Witkoff previously told Fox News that a peace settlement would depend on the status of what he called the “so-called five territories,” a statement that provoked a sharp rebuke from Zelensky, who accused the U.S. envoy of “spreading Russian narratives.”
