Trump Envoy Meets Putin as Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Stall

Steve Witkoff's third meeting with Vladimir Putin highlights ongoing U.S. efforts to broker peace, with new Russian demands impeding progress.

Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday in an effort to advance stalled ceasefire negotiations in the Ukraine conflict.
This marks Witkoff's third meeting with Putin this year, as the U.S. pushes for a peace agreement while expressing frustration over Russia's lack of commitment to earlier proposals.
Russia has introduced new demands, including the lifting of certain U.S. sanctions, further complicating the negotiation process despite Ukraine's agreement to an unconditional ceasefire.
President Trump has warned of additional sanctions on Russia, including secondary tariffs on oil exports, if a ceasefire is not reached by the end of April.
The talks follow a recent prisoner exchange between the U.S. and Russia, seen as a confidence-building measure, but Kremlin officials have downplayed expectations for a breakthrough in this round of discussions.