U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff held a long meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday. According to the Kremlin, the discussion went on for more than four hours. They mainly focused on possible solutions to end the war in Ukraine. This was Witkoff’s third meeting with Putin this year. Special envoy Kirill Dmitriev said the talks were “productive.”
Trump Calls for Urgent Action
Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump showed frustration over the slow progress. He wrote on social media, “Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war.”
Kellogg Denies Ukraine Split Proposal
Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, rejected claims that he suggested splitting Ukraine. On Friday, he clearly denied those allegations.
Europe Pledges €21 Billion in Military Aid
Earlier that day, European nations announced a large support package for Ukraine. They agreed to provide €21 billion ($24 billion or £18 billion) in military assistance. However, European defense ministers said they saw no signs of the war ending soon.
Kremlin Downplays Expectations
Before the meeting, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “no major breakthroughs” were expected. He noted that efforts to rebuild relations were still in progress. When asked if a Trump-Putin meeting could happen, Peskov responded, “Let’s see. It depends on what Witkoff has brought.
