Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks in Moscow on Wednesday with Donald Trump’s special mission, Steve Witkov, the Kremlin said just days before the White House deadline for Russia to reach or potentially face a peace deal with Ukraine. Serious economic punishment That could also be a hit Countries that buy oil.
The Kremlin did not immediately provide details of the meeting. Previously, Witkov took a walk through footage that Tas aired early in the morning with Kiril Dmitriev, the Russian President’s envoy for stone throwing from the Kremlin, investment and economic cooperation.
Dmitriev played a key role in the 3rd round In-person meeting Over the past few months, during debates between Russian and Ukraine delegations in Istanbul, and between Russian and US officials. The negotiations were not made after the end of the negotiations Three Years War Following the invasion of Russian neighbors.
Trump deadline Putin will end on Friday. Washington threatened “Serious Tariffs” and other economic penalties If the murder does not stop.
Trump has made a statement Increased frustration with President Putin It aims to erode the morale and public appetite for war over Russia’s escalating strikes in Ukraine’s civilian regions. Even as Trump urged Russian leaders tolerance in recent months, an intensive attack has emerged.
From Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces crashed into a recreation center in the southern region of Zaporidia in Ukraine, killing two people and injuring 12 people, including two children, Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Wednesday.
The Russian army launched at least four strikes in the region, initially attacking with strong force Sliding bomb.
“This strike has zero military meaning. It’s cruel to blackmail it,” Ukrainian Voldimi Zelenki said in a Telegram post.
Russia also struck Ukraine’s power grid and heating gas facilities as Ukraine prepares for winter, Zelensky said.
Western analysts and Ukrainian officials say Putin is stagnant due to time and is avoiding serious negotiations while Russian troops push to occupy more Ukrainian land. a Russia’s attack It is expected to start in spring and continue into fall, but is faster than last year’s push, but slowly generates only expensive profits and fails to win major cities.
The frontline situation is important for the Ukrainian military, but the defense is not about to collapse, analysts say.
On Tuesday, Trump said he would “see what happens” about his threat of slap tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, which could dramatically increase China and India’s import taxes.
“We’re meeting with Russia tomorrow,” Trump said. “We’re going to see what happens, and we’ll make that decision at that point.”
The president said he has not publicly committed to certain tariff rates.
Intensifying diplomatic and economic pressure on the Kremlin risks depriving international tensions amid worsening relations between Russia and the US.
The Washington-based European Policy Analysis Centre warned in this week’s assessment that “there are clear indications that the Kremlin is preparing for a broader conflict with NATO,” including military accumulation along Russia’s western flank in recent years.”
Putin strengthened Russian military ties China, North Korea and Iran. Meanwhile, NATO said it started on Tuesday Regular delivery adjustments of a massive western weapons package to Ukraine. European allies and Canada have purchased most of the equipment they plan to transport from the US. The Trump administration has not donated weapons to Ukraine.
Putin has No hints are given That he might be ready to make concessions. Instead, Russian leaders and senior Kremlin officials spoke about the country’s military power.
Putin announced a Russian one last week. New Hi-Sonic missilehe says it cannot be intercepted by the current NATO air defense system.
Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that the Ukrainian war could lead Russia and the United States into armed conflict. Trump responded Ordering relocation of two US nuclear submarines.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed Witkov’s visit on Monday. “We consider (the discussion with Witkov) to be important, substantive and extremely useful,” he said.
Trump initially gave Moscow a 50-day deadline, but after that I gave him an ultimatum When the Kremlin continued to bomb Ukrainian cities.
But Trump himself doubted their effectiveness, and said on Sunday that Russia has proven “pretty good to avoid sanctions.”
“They’re wi characters,” he said of the Russians.
The Kremlin claims international sanctions have been imposed since February 2022 due to limited invasions of neighbors.
Ukraine argues that sanctions are causing a blow to Moscow’s war machinery and hopes that Western allies will strengthen them.
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