In a major diplomatic development, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a high-level meeting with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin on Thursday, according to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The three-hour-long meeting was also attended by Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Putin’s special envoy for investment and economic cooperation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry posted on X:
“On April 25, President of Russia Vladimir #Putin met in the Kremlin with Special Envoy of @POTUS, @SteveWitkoff.”
Ukraine Talks Back on the Table?
Citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, CNN reported that the talks were “constructive and very useful,” with both sides exploring the potential for resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.
“This conversation allowed the US positions to be brought closer together, not only on Ukraine, but also on a number of other international issues,” Ushakov noted.
He confirmed that there was discussion on restarting dialogue between Moscow and Kyiv, stating:
“As for the Ukrainian crisis itself, the discussion was, in particular, about the possibility of resuming negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.”
Ushakov, who previously served as Russia’s ambassador to the US, hinted that these efforts align with earlier understandings between Presidents Putin and Trump.
US Floats Crimea Concession, Sparks Zelenskyy Outrage
According to CNN, Washington has recently floated the idea of recognizing Russian control over Crimea to reach a potential ceasefire with Kyiv. This proposal has stirred controversy, especially with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In response, Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday:
“Ukraine will not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea. There is nothing to talk about. It is against our constitution.”
Adding fuel to the fire, former US President Donald Trump criticized Zelenskyy’s stance on Crimea in a Truth Social post, calling his comments “harmful to the peace negotiations” and accusing him of prolonging the war.
“If Zelenskyy wanted Crimea, he should have fought for it 11 years ago,” Trump wrote, reiterating his desire to end the war diplomatically.
A Ray of Hope or More Tensions Ahead?
With diplomatic dialogue between Russia and the US now rekindled, the prospect of peace talks—though complicated by differing views on Crimea—seems to have gained a cautious momentum.
Whether this rare meeting will lead to tangible progress remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the international community is closely watching how the US, Russia, and Ukraine navigate this delicate moment in history.
