Trump’s Mideast envoy set to meet Putin in Moscow for Ukraine cease-fire talks
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, United States, Feb. 28, 2025. (AFP Photo)
United States President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Washington seeks to broker a cease-fire in Ukraine, according to a Bloomberg report on Monday.
Witkoff’s upcoming visit, expected this week, will be his second trip to Russia in his capacity as Trump’s envoy, Bloomberg reported, citing anonymous sources familiar with the discussions.
The timing of his trip coincides with meetings in Saudi Arabia involving Ukrainian officials, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Trump suggested on Sunday that the U.S. anticipates Ukraine will demonstrate a willingness to negotiate peace, stating: “We have big meetings coming up” involving both Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.
Rubio and Waltz met Tuesday with senior Ukrainian officials, led by Andriy Yermak, a top aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in Saudi Arabia.
“The meeting with the U.S. team began very constructively, we are working on bringing a just and lasting peace,” Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office, wrote on Telegram.
