US Envoy Meets Putin as Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Stall

Steve Witkoff's third meeting with Vladimir Putin highlights persistent challenges in brokering peace, with Russia introducing new demands and US threatening additional sanctions.

Steve Witkoff, President Trump's special envoy, met with Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday to discuss a potential Ukraine ceasefire, marking their third meeting this year.
Russia has introduced new conditions for a ceasefire, including lifting certain US sanctions and imposing territorial demands, stalling progress despite Ukraine's agreement to an unconditional truce.
President Trump has expressed growing frustration over the lack of progress, warning of potential secondary sanctions on nations purchasing Russian oil if no agreement is reached by the end of the month.
The US and Russia recently completed a prisoner exchange, with dual citizen Ksenia Karelina released in return for a suspected Russian tech smuggler, viewed as a step toward rebuilding trust.
Discussions also touched on a potential future meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin, signaling efforts to reset US-Russia relations despite ongoing tensions over the Ukraine conflict.