IRIA News

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In a rare high-level diplomatic encounter, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on April 11, 2025, for more than four hours of talks focused on agreeing to a ceasefire as a step toward a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

The meeting, held at the presidential library and briefly broadcast on Russian state television, comes amid mounting frustration in Washington over Moscow’s delay in agreeing to a ceasefire.

This was the third meeting between Witkoff and Putin this year. Witkoff, though officially designated as Trump’s Middle East envoy, has taken a lead role in U.S. backchannel discussions with Moscow. Before Friday’s meeting, he was seen accompanied by Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment adviser.

Dmitriev described the discussions between Putin and Witkoff as “productive”. Neither the U.S. nor Russia has provided any details of the meeting held in St. Petersburg.

Trump tells Russia ‘to get moving’

US. President Donald Trump did not mince words ahead of the talks. Posting on Truth Social, he wrote: “Russia has to get moving. Too many people (are) DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war – A war that should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened, if I were President!!!”

Trump has been pushing for a ceasefire in Ukraine since returning to the White House in January. His administration has described the war, now in its fourth year, as increasingly intolerable and unnecessary. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Witkoff’s visit was part of ongoing efforts to bring about a halt to the fighting and begin formal peace negotiations.

Trump envoy Witkoff met with Putin in St. Petersburg—his third direct engagement with the Russian leader this year. The four-hour talks focused on Ukraine ceasefire efforts, as Trump urges Putin to “get moving” on a deal. pic.twitter.com/LX7MMJPNMI

— IRIA (@IRIA_Research) April 12, 2025

High-stakes meeting but limited progress

According to the Russian state agency RIA Novosti, the meeting lasted four and a half hours. The Kremlin released a brief statement afterward, saying only that the two discussed “aspects of a Ukrainian settlement.” No breakthroughs were announced.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov downplayed expectations beforehand, stating the meeting was not expected to be “momentous,” but would allow Moscow to present its concerns directly.

Witkoff’s approach has sparked debate in Washington. Less than 48 hours before traveling to Russia, he met with Trump at the White House and reportedly proposed that the fastest path to a ceasefire would involve recognizing Russian control over four Ukrainian regions – Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson – Moscow attempted to annex in 2022, Reuters reported.

Witkoff’s stance has gained some support among Republican lawmakers, skeptical of continued military aid to Ukraine. Others, both in Congress and the administration, warn that his proposals align too closely with Kremlin interests.

Additional controversy arose after it was revealed that Witkoff invited Dmitriev, under U.S. sanctions since 2022, for a private dinner at his home. The invitation raised security concerns, leading to the meeting being relocated to the White House. Sources say internal tensions have intensified as Witkoff pushes to secure a ceasefire by May, even as partial agreements, such as those on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping, have stalled.

Trump administration officials remain divided over how to end the war in Ukraine, with Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Keith Kellogg at odds over strategy. In a recent White House meeting, Kellogg pushed back against Witkoff’s proposal to concede four occupied regions to Russia, arguing that Ukraine would never agree to fully surrender those territories, according to two sources.

Russia-Ukraine ceasefire stalls

The recent talks were held as the U.S. and Russia continue to engage in talks aimed at agreeing on a ceasefire ahead of a possible peace deal to end the war in Ukraine. However, the ceasefire appears to have stalled over disagreements around the conditions for a full pause in hostilities.

U.S. officials say Ukraine has agreed to a ceasefire framework proposed by Washington, but Russia has not formally accepted the terms. Instead, Moscow continues to demand broad concessions — including Ukrainian neutrality, restrictions on the size of Ukraine’s military, and full recognition of Russian control over four occupied Ukrainian regions, even though Russian forces do not fully hold them.

Putin, while stating he is open “in principle” to a ceasefire, insists that what he describes as the war’s underlying causes must be addressed. His demands include a ban on Ukrainian NATO membership, limits on Kyiv’s military, and full recognition of Russia’s claims to four occupied regions, despite Russian forces not fully controlling them.

The Kremlin believes it holds a military advantage and expects Ukraine to yield ground in negotiations. Kyiv, meanwhile, has rejected Moscow’s terms outright, describing them as tantamount to surrender.

European Allies step up support for Ukraine

While Witkoff met with Putin, European defense leaders convened in Brussels and pledged over $24 billion (21 billion euros) in new military assistance to Ukraine. British Defense Secretary John Healey called it a “record boost” aimed at strengthening Ukrainian defenses and countering Russian advances, adding that the package would help Ukraine “turn the tide on the battlefield.”

Germany will contribute over half of the new funding under its €11 billion ($12.5 billion) military package by 2029in addition to money already “pledged” to Ukraine, according to Boris Pistorius, acting German defense minister.

We stand with Ukraine in the fight.

And we will stand with Ukraine in the peace.

pic.twitter.com/j8XZ8IvduU

— John Healey (@JohnHealey_MP) April 11, 2025

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, appearing alongside Healey, described the commitment as one of the most significant Ukraine has received to date and thanked each country.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined the NATO-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting via video, renewing his call for more Patriot missile systems following deadly Russian airstrikes that killed 20 civilians, including nine children, in his hometown last week.

Diplomatic channels reopen, but tensions persist

Despite heightened military tensions, some diplomatic progress has been made. U.S. and Russian officials reported advancements during recent talks in Istanbul regarding the restoration of consular services—a modest but symbolically important step toward rebuilding bilateral ties.

Witkoff’s diplomacy has yielded some tangible outcomes. In February, following a meeting with Putin, he returned to the U.S. with Marc Fogel, a teacher previously detained in Russia. Just this week, a prisoner exchange saw Russian-American spa worker Ksenia Karelina swapped for Arthur Petrov, whom the U.S. accused of helping smuggle sensitive electronics to Russia’s military.

Following his visit to St. Petersburg, Witkoff is expected to continue his diplomatic tour with a stop in Oman, where he will lead U.S. efforts to reduce tensions with Iran. Trump has threatened military action if Tehran refuses to reengage in nuclear talks.