Smiling Putin meets Trump envoy Steve Witkoff with US president’s deadline for ending Ukraine war just hours away

Vladimir Putin has met with US special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin as President Trump’s deadline for ending the Ukraine conflict fast approaches. 

‘Russian President Vladimir Putin received US Special Envoy Steven Witkoff,’ state-run agency TASS reported, citing the Kremlin.

Earlier, Witkoff took an early morning stroll through Zaryadye Park, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin, with Kirill Dmitriev, footage aired by TASS showed.

Dmitriev played a key role in three rounds of direct talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul in recent months, as well as discussions between Russian and U.S. officials. 

The negotiations have made no progress on ending the three-year war following Russia’s invasion of its neighbour.

Trump’s deadline for Putin ends on Friday. Washington has threatened ‘severe tariffs’ and other economic penalties if the killing doesn’t stop.

Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin over Russia’s escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war.

The intensified attacks have occurred even as Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent.

This is a breaking news story – more to follow