U.S. Envoy Meets Russian Prez Putin in Moscow With 72-Hour Countdown to Deal Deadline
High-stakes negotiations between the United States and Russia resumed Wednesday in Moscow, as the deadline set by President Donald Trump to reach a ceasefire deal in Ukraine looms just 72 hours away.
The talks represent a final diplomatic effort to end the conflict before the imposition of sweeping secondary sanctions targeting Russia’s global trade network.
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Witkoff, carrying a notebook marked with the Presidential seal, was also seen earlier in the day with Kirill Dmitriev, the Kremlin’s investment chief who recently had Western sanctions lifted to facilitate direct dialogue with Washington.
The Witkoff-Putin summit marks the fifth such engagement this year and follows months of negotiations characterized by public optimism but little tangible progress.
Despite multiple rounds of diplomacy, the conflict in Ukraine has shown few signs of de-escalation.
Trump Sets August 8 Deadline for Ceasefire Deal
President Trump has warned that failure to achieve a deal by Friday, August 8 will trigger secondary trade tariffs on countries that maintain economic ties with Moscow.
The move is aimed at isolating Russia by pressuring its global partners to disengage or risk losing access to U.S. markets.
“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs… doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal,” said President Trump during a recent statement. “It’s very simple... they’ll be at 100 percent.”
The President has emphasized that these new sanctions are not just symbolic. While direct sanctions have had limited effects, secondary tariffs are expected to exert broader economic pressure by targeting Russia’s trading ecosystem.
According to U.S. officials, these measures are designed to “be felt in Moscow” and encourage compliance with peace initiatives.
Diplomatic Fatigue on Display
President Trump’s tone has shifted markedly from hopeful to frustrated. After months of direct communication with President Putin, he now warns of escalating penalties if Russia continues to avoid concrete commitments toward peace.
“I always hang up and say, ‘well, that was a nice phone call,’ and then missiles are launched into Kyiv,” said Trump. “I go home, I tell the First Lady, ‘you know, I spoke to Vladimir today,’ and then she says, ‘oh really? Another city was just hit.’”
The comment underscores a growing impatience in Washington, where the administration views Russia’s diplomatic overtures as increasingly performative.
Kirill Dmitriev’s Role in the Negotiations
Kirill Dmitriev, who has emerged as an informal backchannel to U.S. decision-makers, met with Witkoff shortly before the official Kremlin summit.
Educated in the United States and widely regarded as an economic pragmatist, Dmitriev continues to advocate for renewed U.S.-Russia investment ties, even amid rising tensions.
His role in today’s talks is seen as part of a broader attempt to frame economic cooperation as a peace incentive.
Global Stakes Remain High
With the August 8 deadline fast approaching, the world watches to see whether the final round of diplomacy will halt the Ukraine war or usher in a new phase of economic confrontation between Washington and Moscow.
The outcome will have ripple effects across Europe, Canada, China, India, and global markets, all of which are closely tied to the U.S. and Russian economies.