Overview

• Special envoy Steve Witkoff held a three-hour meeting with President Putin on August 6 that Kremlin aides described as useful and constructive but stopped short of a ceasefire pledge.
• President Trump has warned that secondary tariffs targeting Russia’s remaining trade partners will take effect Friday if Moscow does not halt its offensive in Ukraine.
• Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov announced that a bilateral summit between Presidents Trump and Putin has been agreed and could occur as soon as next week.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke with European leaders to ensure Kyiv’s interests are represented in any U.S.-Russia negotiations.
• The Biden administration’s envoy plan, tariff threats and personal engagement by Trump aim to break a stalemate after three unproductive peace talks in Istanbul.