The US president’s confidant spent over 4 hours behind closed doorways with the Russian chief in St. Petersburg
White Home particular envoy Steve Witkoff has departed Russia in the identical secrecy that surrounded his arrival on Friday, after spending greater than 4 hours speaking with President Vladimir Putin behind closed doorways in St. Petersburg.
The marathon talks – the third recognized assembly between the 2 – have been held in Putin’s hometown, with each the Kremlin and the White Home providing few particulars in regards to the substance of the discussions. Right here’s what we all know up to now.
Shock go to to St. Petersburg
Witkoff’s newest journey to Russia got here with out prior public announcement. Air site visitors displays tracked a aircraft linked to the US envoy flying from Florida to St. Petersburg in a single day. He was later noticed alongside Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev, strolling out of a resort within the metropolis heart earlier than the talks. Earlier conferences between Witkoff and Putin had taken place in Moscow.
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Kremlin sheds some mild
The Kremlin confirmed that the four-hour dialogue centered on “elements of the settlement of the Ukraine battle,” however declined to supply additional particulars. Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov beforehand mentioned subjects might additionally embrace normalization of US-Russia relations, a attainable in-person assembly between Trump and Putin, and considerations Moscow needed to convey on to a trusted Trump consultant.
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White Home explains go to
White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mentioned Witkoff’s journey was a part of Trump’s broader effort to barter a ceasefire and an eventual peace deal in Ukraine. “That is one other step within the negotiating course of,” Leavitt mentioned, whereas declining to supply specifics.
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Putin envoy’s go to to Washington
Witkoff’s go to got here simply days after Russian presidential aide Kirill Dmitriev traveled to Washington for talks with senior Trump officers. Dmitriev, who advises Putin on worldwide financial cooperation, described Friday’s discussions with Witkoff as “productive” in a submit on X, welcoming the US envoy to St. Petersburg.
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Present state of Russia-US talks on Ukraine
Throughout a White Home assembly with President Donald Trump final week, Witkoff argued that recognizing Russian possession of Lugansk, Donetsk, Zaporozhye, and Kherson was the swiftest path to halting the battle, based on media experiences. Common Keith Kellogg, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, reportedly pushed again, stressing that Ukraine wouldn’t settle for full territorial concessions. Witkoff defended his method in a current interview with Tucker Carlson, citing referendums held within the areas. The White Home assembly reportedly concluded with no determination from Trump, who has repeatedly mentioned he goals to dealer a ceasefire as quickly as attainable.
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What’s subsequent?
Peskov mentioned one other cellphone name between Putin and Trump is “theoretically attainable” following Witkoff’s go to, relying on the end result of negotiations. The 2 leaders final spoke on March 18, and have each publicly expressed readiness to ultimately meet in particular person when the time is correct.
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