Donald Trump’s special envoy arrived in Russia on Friday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, with the goal to restart ceasefire negotiations. Simultaneously, Ukraine’s Western allies gathered in Brussels, pledging billions more in military support while expressing deep doubts about Moscow’s intentions.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy on negotiations with Russia, held his third meeting with the Russian president in St. Petersburg as part of ongoing efforts to “normalize the relationship,” according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov.
The meeting is part of Trump’s push for a 30-day cease-fire in Ukraine, with the aim of turning the temporary truce into broader peace talks. Ukraine has agreed to the proposal while Russia has not, instead demanding the removal of Western sanctions and broader commitments that would “remove the root causes of this crisis,” according to President Putin.
In Brussels, meanwhile, European defense leaders expressed skepticism about Russia’s willingness to make peace.
“Given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, we must concede that peace in Ukraine appears to be out of reach in the immediate future,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said. “We will ensure that Ukraine continues to benefit from our joint military support.” He emphasized that Russia “is still not interested in peace.”
British Defense Secretary John Healey announced pledges totaling more than €21 billion($23.8 billion) in military assistance from NATO allies. The aid will prioritize air defense systems, drones, and repair capabilities within Ukraine.
“We are sending a signal to Putin, but we are also sending a message to Ukraine, and we are saying to Ukraine, we stand with you in the fight, and we will stand with you in the peace,” Healey said.
Witkoff’s visit to Russia marks a sharp departure from the attitude of the Biden administration, which severed direct ties with the Kremlin following Russia’s invasion in 2022 and accused Putin of war crimes. Witkoff, by contrast, has taken a different path. After his first meeting with Putin, he said he was trying to build “a friendship, a relationship” with the Russian leader.
While hopes for a breakthrough remain low, Peskov confirmed that Ukraine and a potential Trump-Putin meeting were on the agenda.
