ALBAWABA—In a high-stakes diplomatic mission, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for urgent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
This was just 48 hours before President Donald Trump’s deadline for the Kremlin to halt its war in Ukraine or face a new wave of sanctions and secondary tariffs expires.
Upon his arrival, Witkoff was received by Kremlin special representative Kirill Dmitriev. Russian state media released footage of the two walking together in Zaryadye Park, flanked by aides and security personnel.
The Kremlin later confirmed that Putin and Witkoff held a closed-door meeting, sharing video of the leaders shaking hands, though no immediate discussion details were disclosed.
Though officially Special Envoy to the Middle East, Witkoff has played an increasingly prominent role in Trump’s foreign policy and has made several trips to Russia since the president took office in January. His last visit, in April, focused on reviving direct peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
The timing of this latest trip is crucial. Trump has warned that unless Russia halts its military operations by Friday, the U.S. will impose a new round of sanctions, including so-called "secondary tariffs" that would target Russian trade partners such as China and India.
“Putin will stop killing people if you get energy down another $10 a barrel. He’s going to have no choice, because his economy stinks,” Trump said in an interview with CBS on Tuesday. Asked what message Witkoff carried to Moscow, Trump was blunt: “Get a deal where people stop getting killed.”
Despite Trump’s threats, he has acknowledged Russia’s resilience under pressure. “They’re wily characters,” Trump remarked over the weekend, noting Russia’s ability to evade past sanctions.
Publicly, the Kremlin has downplayed the threat of sanctions. However, according to Russian officials cited by Reuters, Putin is privately concerned that defying Trump could cost him a rare chance to reset relations with Washington.
The meeting with Witkoff, captured and released by Kremlin media, underscores Moscow's urgency regarding the talks, even as the world waits to see whether diplomacy will prevail or tensions escalate.
