U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had achieved "great progress" during a three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, as Washington prepares to impose new sanctions on Friday.
U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing for an in-person meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin as early as next week, following diplomatic efforts led by his special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
According to The New York Times, which cited two people familiar with the planning, the proposed summit could also involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a subsequent round of discussions aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Details of the potential meeting were shared during a phone call between Trump and several European leaders on Wednesday, the paper reported, hours after Witkoff returned from Russia.
While the White House has not officially confirmed the summit, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had spoken with allies following Witkoff’s “highly productive” talks with Putin.
"Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come," Trump wrote.
The former businessman, who returned to the presidency in January, has repeatedly pledged to bring a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. He has already held separate discussions with both Putin and Zelenskyy this year, though officials say Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with what he views as a lack of progress from the Kremlin.
Witkoff’s three-hour meeting in Moscow earlier this week was aimed at finding a breakthrough in the war, which began in February 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump is continuing to escalate pressure on countries supporting Russia economically. On Wednesday, he imposed a 25% tariff on Indian imports, citing New Delhi’s ongoing oil purchases from Moscow. The tariffs raise duties on certain Indian goods to as high as 50%.
The White House said secondary sanctions on countries doing business with Russia are still expected to be announced on Friday.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has also warned Chinese officials that they could face similar penalties if they continue buying sanctioned Russian oil. Although no action has yet been taken against China, discussions remain ongoing as a 90-day tariff truce between Washington and Beijing nears its 12 August expiry.
The war has now entered its fourth year, with devastating humanitarian consequences. The United Nations estimates that more than 6.3 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad. Inside the country, nearly 18 million people are in need of humanitarian aid.
Neither Kyiv nor Moscow has issued a statement on whether they would attend a proposed trilateral meeting with Trump.
Two adjoining residential buildings collapsed in Tripoli’s Bab al-Tabbaneh neighbourhood on Sunday, with the death toll rising to nine as search ope...
Double world champion Max Langenhan delivered a dominant performance to win men’s luge singles gold on Sunday (8 February), breaking the track recor...
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent cr...
Hamas has strongly condemned new Israeli government decisions to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank, warning the measures pose an “existen...
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
The U.S. and China are locked in a growing struggle over critical minerals, the materials that power everything from electric vehicles and microchips to missiles and advanced radar systems, as both sides move to secure control over supply chains that underpin economic and military power.
Vladimir Putin’s special envoy Kirill Dmitriev is expected to travel to Miami on Saturday for meetings with members of Donald Trump’s administration, two sources familiar with the plans told Reuters.
The United States says it's handing over a tanker to Venezuela that it seized earlier this month, according to two U.S. officials, marking the first known case of President Donald Trump’s administration returning such a vessel, Reuters reported.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
Double world champion Max Langenhan delivered a dominant performance to win men’s luge singles gold on Sunday (8 February), breaking the track record four consecutive times as Germany extended its grip on the sport, now winning four of the past five Olympic titles.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
India’s trade minister said diversifying energy imports and expanding purchases of advanced technology from the United States would serve New Delhi’s strategic interests, as the two countries move closer to finalising a long-awaited trade agreement.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Japan’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has secured a sweeping victory in Sunday’s lower house election, cementing her authority and paving the way for major economic and security reforms.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment