Special U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff Meets Putin for Over Four Hours to Discuss Ukraine War Ceasefire – April 12 | St. Petersburg – Washington

Special U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff Meets Putin for Over Four Hours to Discuss Ukraine War Ceasefire – April 12 | St. Petersburg – Washington

Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Friday for an extended meeting that lasted more than four hours. The discussion primarily focused on the possibility of a ceasefire in the Ukraine war and areas of potential agreement.

According to the Kremlin, this was the third meeting between Witkoff and Putin this year, and it was described by Russian officials as “constructive.”

Trump’s Frustration and Pressure for a Ceasefire

On the day of the meeting, President Trump expressed his frustration on social media, writing:
“Russia must step up now. Thousands are dying every week—this war is unnecessary and brutal.”

Trump has repeatedly claimed that he could stop the Ukraine-Russia war within 24 hours if he were in the White House, and that the war wouldn’t have started in the first place had he been president in 2022.

Controversy Over Kellogg’s "Division" Comment

A previous interview with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy on Ukraine, stirred controversy when he suggested creating a "security buffer" by deploying British and French troops in western Ukraine while Russian forces control the east.
He reportedly said,
“This could resemble the post-World War II division of Berlin.”

Later, however, Kellogg took to social media to clarify his statement, saying his remarks were misrepresented. He wrote:
“I spoke of a support force to uphold a ceasefire and protect Ukraine’s sovereignty—not division.”

No Clear Progress, European Concerns Grow

While the U.S. is actively pushing for a ceasefire, European defense ministers at a recent summit expressed skepticism about any near-term resolution to the conflict. On the same day, Europe announced €21 billion (approx. $24 billion) in additional military aid to Ukraine.

Possible Putin-Trump Meeting?

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated,
“Normalization of relations is in progress, but no major breakthrough is expected from this meeting.”
In response to a journalist’s question, he said that a direct meeting between Putin and Trump could be discussed, depending on the message brought by Witkoff.

Zelenskyy’s Anger and Chinese Troop Allegations

On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid tribute to 19 victims of a Russian missile strike in his hometown, Kryvyi Rih—among them, 9 children. He alleged:
“Hundreds of Chinese nationals are fighting with the occupying Russian forces.”
This statement followed the recent detention of two Chinese nationals by Ukrainian authorities.

Zelenskyy renewed his plea for advanced air defense systems, stating,
“We’re not just requesting—we are ready to purchase. Only powerful weapons can save lives, especially when our neighbor is Russia.”

U.S.-Russia Relations: Progress Amid Tensions

The U.S. and Russia have already held direct talks in Saudi Arabia and are reportedly discussing the full restoration of diplomatic relations.
Russia’s ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, commented:
“We cannot move from zero trust to full alignment in two months.”
However, he noted that step-by-step progress is being made.