Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has arrived in Moscow for negotiations at the Kremlin. His visit comes amid reports, confirmed by diplomatic sources and Bloomberg, of the possibility of an air ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
Upon arrival in the Russian capital, Witkoff met with Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev at a restaurant in Zaryadye before proceeding with his delegation to the Kremlin. The US representative declined to comment on his expectations prior to the talks.
Media outlets report that an air ceasefire is being discussed as a potential concession from the Kremlin to Trump. The decision on further US sanctions against Russia reportedly depends on the outcome of Witkoff’s meeting with Vladimir Putin. According to Bloomberg, Russia is considering a pause in aerial strikes involving drones and missiles, provided Ukraine also agrees. However, a general ceasefire is still off the table for Moscow.
The Financial Times notes the Trump administration is considering new sanctions targeting Russia’s "shadow fleet" as additional pressure should talks fail. This could represent the first case of harsher actions against Moscow after Trump’s possible return to the White House.
Other important developments include Armenia confirming Prime Minister Pashinyan’s visit to the US for talks with Aliyev and Trump on resolving the Karabakh conflict, which may further reduce Russian influence in the region. The US is also set to auction a confiscated yacht belonging to Russian senator Suleiman Kerimov.
In summary, upcoming US-Russia talks and the possibility of an aerial ceasefire may impact the Ukraine war and influence the West’s sanctions strategy against Russia.
