(NewsNation) — Special envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow on Wednesday to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, as time runs out on President Donald Trump’s deadline to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.
If Russia fails to reach a ceasefire by Friday, the White House has threatened “severe tariffs” and other economic penalties targeting countries buying Russian oil.
The White House did not immediately provide details of the meeting, but it marked Wiktoff’s fifth visit to Moscow this year — and was perhaps the most critical.
Trump, Zelenskyy discuss path to ending war with Russia
Russia strikes Ukraine power grid, gas facilities
Growing increasingly frustrated with Putin, Trump has urged Russia for months to scale back strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine. Despite those calls, Russian attacks have intensified.
Overnight Wednesday, Russian forces hit a recreational center in Ukraine’s southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people and injuring 12, including two children, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said.
Russian forces launched at least four strikes on the area and initially attacked with powerful glide bombs.
“There is zero military sense in this strike. Only cruelty to intimidate,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a social media post.
Russia also struck the Ukrainian power grid and heating gas facilities, Zelenskyy said, as Ukraine makes preparations for winter.
HHS ends millions in federal funding for vaccines
Trump threatens sanctions on Russian oil
The Trump administration has warned that without progress by Friday, it will impose severe economic sanctions, including possible secondary tariffs targeting countries that continue to trade with Russia.
“The president is not happy with Mr. Putin and Russia, but he remains committed to diplomatic solutions,” said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “We’ve also seen a remark, perhaps a reflection of possible secondary sanctions regarding the sale of oil, countries that are buying Russian oil, and that has been openly discussed by the president.”
The Kremlin acknowledged the tension, as spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Russian TASS state news agency, “There is, of course, inertia in this process. It takes time for efforts to bring bilateral relations back onto a normal track.”
However, in Ukraine, few are hopeful the meeting will lead to real change. Many believe Russia has no real interest in lasting peace.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
