Putin and Trump Envoy Hold Four-Hour Talks on Ukraine Peace Deal in St. Petersburg

In a significant diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Steve Witkoff, special envoy for U.S. President Donald Trump, in St. Petersburg on Friday to discuss a possible peace deal in Ukraine. The high-level talks, held at the Presidential Library, were broadcast on Russian state TV and reportedly lasted over four hours.

The Kremlin confirmed that the central focus of the meeting was the ongoing Ukraine conflict, now in its third year. According to Russian officials, the two sides discussed various aspects of a settlement, though no major breakthrough was announced.

A Complicated Diplomatic Landscape

Witkoff’s growing influence in the U.S.-Russia diplomatic arena comes amid ongoing efforts to rekindle ties between Washington and Moscow. Sources suggest that the U.S. envoy has been involved in preliminary conversations around joint economic ventures, including potential investments in Russia’s Arctic projects and rare earth minerals.

Earlier in the day, local media captured footage of Witkoff alongside Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, as they departed a hotel ahead of the meeting. Dmitriev later described the talks as “productive.”

Despite the positive tone, negotiations appear to be stuck on key points—particularly on conditions for a full ceasefire in Ukraine. Disagreements persist over Ukraine’s NATO ambitions, military size, and territorial concessions, especially regarding the four Ukrainian regions Russia claims but does not fully control.

Trump Calls on Russia to Act

As talks continued in Russia, President Trump voiced his frustration, posting on Truth Social:

“Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war – A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”

His remarks come as U.S. patience wears thin. Washington is reportedly considering secondary sanctions on nations that continue purchasing Russian oil, signaling that time is running out for Moscow to show progress at the negotiating table.

Mounting Pressure from Kyiv

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have submitted reports to Washington accusing Russia of violating a ceasefire agreement aimed at protecting energy infrastructure. The reports list several alleged Russian strikes that contradict the terms agreed to just last month.

Kyiv continues to reject Moscow’s demands, viewing them as a call for outright capitulation. With Russia controlling just under 20% of Ukraine and advancing in certain areas, the Kremlin feels it holds the upper hand—but Ukraine remains defiant.

Could a Trump-Putin Meeting Be Next?

Speculation is growing about a potential face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed the possibility was discussed, though he played down expectations, saying no major breakthroughs were anticipated from the Witkoff visit.

This latest dialogue marks the third meeting this year between Putin and Witkoff and comes at a time when U.S. tensions with Iran and China are also escalating.

Witkoff, who visited a synagogue in St. Petersburg earlier on Friday, is expected to travel to Oman on Saturday for discussions with Iranian officials about the country’s nuclear program. President Trump has warned Tehran of possible military action if a new nuclear deal isn’t reached.

Diplomatic Momentum and Recent Prisoner Swaps

On a more positive note, both Russian and U.S. diplomats cited progress in normalizing operations at their embassies after recent talks in Istanbul. This follows a notable February meeting between Putin and Witkoff that led to the release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher previously detained in Russia.

Just this week, another high-profile prisoner exchange took place, with Russian-American spa worker Ksenia Karelina swapped for Arthur Petrov, a Russian accused by the U.S. of running a smuggling ring to supply electronics to Russia’s military.

Final Thoughts

While the road to peace in Ukraine remains long and uncertain, the recent talks in St. Petersburg represent a potential step forward. With diplomatic channels now clearly open and both sides cautiously optimistic, the world watches closely to see whether negotiations can finally bring an end to one of the most devastating conflicts in recent history.

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