US President Donald Trump has announced progress in talks with Russia regarding the war in Ukraine.
His envoy, Steve Witkoff, met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin just days before a self-imposed ceasefire deadline.
Trump called the discussions productive and stated that he had already updated some European leaders about the meeting.
According to the Kremlin, the meeting involved an exchange of messages described as constructive. However, further details were withheld pending Witkoff’s report to Trump.
Photos from the Kremlin showed a cordial meeting between Putin and Witkoff, who have met several times before. This comes amid growing frustration from Trump over delays in reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he had spoken with Trump after the talks and was joined by several European leaders. He repeated his country’s call to end the war.
Trump has warned that Russia could face more sanctions if it fails to take steps toward ending the conflict. Soon after Witkoff left Moscow, the White House announced a new 25% tariff on Indian oil imports, set to begin on August 27, targeting India’s ongoing trade with Russia.
Earlier this week, Trump criticized India for ignoring the human cost of Russia’s war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Zelensky stated that Russia would only negotiate seriously if its financial situation worsened.
Despite the diplomatic efforts, Russian airstrikes on Ukraine have continued. In Kyiv, the death toll from a recent attack rose to 32. Another strike in Zaporizhzhia killed two people and injured 12 at a holiday camp.
On Tuesday, the US approved $200 million in military aid to Ukraine following a phone call between Trump and Zelensky. The package includes support for drone production, which Ukraine has used in strikes on Russian energy sites.