Ther Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that a US delegation will hold discussions with Russian officials, and state-run TASS reported that US envoy Steve Witcoff has arrived in Moscow.
Russia claims to have recaptured significant territory in the Kursk region from Ukraine, giving it leverage in the negotiations.
Witcoff, Trump’s Middle East envoy, has been increasingly involved in efforts to end the three-year Ukraine war.
Trump stated on Wednesday that the decision is now with Russia as his administration urges Moscow to agree to a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has supported.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov would not comment on Moscow’s view on the ceasefire proposal and suggested that a phone call between Presidents Putin and Trump may be necessary to discuss the matter further.
Yuri Ushakov, a top Kremlin aide, stated that Russia views the ceasefire proposal as a temporary reprieve for the Ukrainian military and expressed skepticism about any peaceful actions in the current situation.
Russia is expected to present its demands before responding to the ceasefire proposal, including Ukraine’s withdrawal from NATO and the recognition of Russian-occupied Ukrainian land.
Russia’s Advance in Kursk
Russian forces have made significant advances in the Kurse region, retaking key towns from Ukraine, which has raised concerns about the possibility of Kyiv losing the war.
Putin visited the Kursk region, wearing a green camouflage uniform, and emphasized the need to decisively defeat enemy forces in the region and create a security zone along the state border.
Putin’s appearance in Kursk aims to project confidence in Russia’s military success, but some individuals in Ukraine remain highly skeptical of a potential ceasefire agreement with Russia.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 has resulted in a substantial number of casualties, displaced millions of people, caused widespread destruction, and escalated tensions between Moscow and the West.
