Bloomberg: Trump's Envoy Attempted to Persuade Putin on Ceasefire Deal Terms
Last week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict. According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Witkoff aimed to persuade Putin to agree to a...
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Last week, US special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding the Ukraine conflict.
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Witkoff aimed to persuade Putin to agree to a ceasefire that would stop fighting along the current frontlines in Ukraine. However, Putin reportedly maintained a firm position throughout the lengthy discussion.
The talks took place on Friday and were the latest in a series of interactions between Moscow and Washington over recent months. Witkoff, recognized as a pivotal figure in initiating negotiations related to the Ukraine conflict, has engaged in several rounds of discussions with high-ranking Russian officials, including at least three meetings with Putin.
Sources informed Bloomberg that Putin insisted any meaningful peace agreement would need to acknowledge the formal status of four former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia following referendums in 2022.
Moscow has consistently expressed its willingness to engage in negotiations but asserts that discussions over the status of Crimea—annexed by Russia in 2014—and the four other regions are off the table. The Kremlin emphasizes the importance of recognizing the "reality on the ground" for achieving a sustainable peace.
Additionally, Axios reported last week that Washington had provided Kiev with what US President Donald Trump characterized as a “final offer” to resolve the conflict. The proposal allegedly includes US readiness to grant “de jure” recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and to unofficially acknowledge Moscow’s “de facto” control over the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's subsequent statement, asserting that Kiev would never acknowledge Crimea as Russian, led Trump to warn that Zelensky could risk losing his entire country if he continued to delay negotiations with Moscow.
Following a meeting with Zelensky during Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican, Trump was asked by reporters if the Ukrainian leader was prepared to "give up" the peninsula. Trump responded, “Oh, I think so, yeah.”
One source mentioned to Bloomberg that negotiations have reached a standstill and that progress may depend on direct communication between Putin and Trump.
The two leaders had a two-hour phone call in March, during which they reaffirmed their dedication to achieving a “lasting peace” instead of a temporary resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated earlier this month that a meeting between Putin and Trump “will take place” but only “at the appropriate time.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
According to sources cited by Bloomberg, Witkoff aimed to persuade Putin to agree to a ceasefire that would stop fighting along the current frontlines in Ukraine. However, Putin reportedly maintained a firm position throughout the lengthy discussion.
The talks took place on Friday and were the latest in a series of interactions between Moscow and Washington over recent months. Witkoff, recognized as a pivotal figure in initiating negotiations related to the Ukraine conflict, has engaged in several rounds of discussions with high-ranking Russian officials, including at least three meetings with Putin.
Sources informed Bloomberg that Putin insisted any meaningful peace agreement would need to acknowledge the formal status of four former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia following referendums in 2022.
Moscow has consistently expressed its willingness to engage in negotiations but asserts that discussions over the status of Crimea—annexed by Russia in 2014—and the four other regions are off the table. The Kremlin emphasizes the importance of recognizing the "reality on the ground" for achieving a sustainable peace.
Additionally, Axios reported last week that Washington had provided Kiev with what US President Donald Trump characterized as a “final offer” to resolve the conflict. The proposal allegedly includes US readiness to grant “de jure” recognition of Crimea as part of Russia and to unofficially acknowledge Moscow’s “de facto” control over the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky's subsequent statement, asserting that Kiev would never acknowledge Crimea as Russian, led Trump to warn that Zelensky could risk losing his entire country if he continued to delay negotiations with Moscow.
Following a meeting with Zelensky during Pope Francis’ funeral in the Vatican, Trump was asked by reporters if the Ukrainian leader was prepared to "give up" the peninsula. Trump responded, “Oh, I think so, yeah.”
One source mentioned to Bloomberg that negotiations have reached a standstill and that progress may depend on direct communication between Putin and Trump.
The two leaders had a two-hour phone call in March, during which they reaffirmed their dedication to achieving a “lasting peace” instead of a temporary resolution to the Ukraine conflict. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated earlier this month that a meeting between Putin and Trump “will take place” but only “at the appropriate time.”
Rohan Mehta for TROIB News
