Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff Meets Russia’s Putin on Cease-Fire Negotiations – Kremlin Says It’s ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ With Peace Process
Did Russian President Vladimir Putin accept or reject the cease-fire proposal forwarded by the US after agreement with Ukraine?
Depends on who you ask, it seems.
Most of Europeans and the most hostile US news sites are trying to say that he rejected it, while those who are supporters of the Ukraine Peace Process and the general détente between US and Russia are saying that he accepted, with conditions.
US President Donald J. Trump called Putin’s reply ‘encouraging, but incomplete’, while Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky only had the worst words for Putin, as TGP’s Jim Hoft reported earlier.
Those of us following closely the thought process from Kremlin officials and from the Russian blogosphere understand that Putin has displayed the most accepting stance he could possibly take, right now.
It’s a common-sense feature of wars that ‘to victors, the spoils’ – meaning, the losing side does NOT get to establish the conditions for a settling of the conflict. That is a prerogative of the winners.
As I write this, the Russian Federation forces are maintaining constant pressure on the Eastern Donetsk region, besides being on the verge of expelling or destroying the remaining Kiev’s forces in Kursk region, where they took back 29 settlements in a week.
If that was not enough, the Red Army has stepped up efforts to invade Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, having already taken control of the village of Novenke, opening yet another front against the already overstretched defenders.
So, Russia does not have to be in a rush to settle.
But one thing can’t be denied: the peace process continues in warp-speed mode, so much so that ON THE SAME DAY that Putin first addressed the issue, he already received Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for a secretive, closed-door meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the Russian side declared themselves ‘cautiously optimistic’.
The Telegraph reported:
“The Kremlin has said it is ‘cautiously optimistic’ after Vladimir Putin held talks with one of Donald Trump’s most senior advisers yesterday.”
Witkoff promptly flew to Moscow for late-night talks with the Russian president after he rejected or approved (depending on who you ask) the proposal for a 30-day truce with Ukraine.
“Putin generally agrees with Mr Trump’s position but ‘there’s a lot of work to do’, a Kremlin spokesman said, adding that the two leaders will speak over the phone once Mr Witkoff returns to the US.”
Vladimir Putin also spoke with crown prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman.
“Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler told the Russian president that he supported “all initiatives” to end the war in Ukraine, after US officials proposed a 30-day ceasefire following talks in Jeddah.
The Saudi leader reaffirmed his country’s “commitment to facilitating dialogue and supporting all initiatives aimed at achieving a political resolution” in the call, according to a foreign ministry spokesman.”
Sputnik reported on statements by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov:
“The American side provided President Putin with additional information, while Putin relayed messages and signals to Trump through Witkoff.
Peskov denied reports that the US special envoy, Kellogg, had been removed from Ukraine talks at Russia’s request, stating that Russia had no interest in meddling in US internal affairs.
Putin supports Trump’s position on Ukraine but highlighted key issues that need joint solutions.
Both Russia and the US recognize the importance of a conversation between Putin and Trump.”
The exact timing for the conversation between Trump and Putin has not been decided yet.
Read more:
BREAKING: Russian President Putin Accepts US-Ukraine Ceasefire Plan — But With Specific Conditions
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