Face to face: Putin received Witkoff in the Kremlin

On Wednesday, August 6, Stephen Witkoff, the US President's special envoy for the Middle East, flew back to Moscow for the fifth time in 2025. This time, Vladimir Putin received Witkoff in the Kremlin. During his previous visits, Witkoff met with Russian diplomats and, in April, personally with Russian President Vladimir Putin. All this has shifted the negotiation process for a peaceful settlement in Ukraine, and several rounds of meetings have been held in Istanbul. However, there is still no talk of direct negotiations between the leaders of the countries. The current visit takes place in the context of threats made by Donald Trump against Russian oil and gas counterparties, including China and India, about the introduction of secondary duties on domestic oil. Why Witkoff flew to Russia and how his visit may end is in the Izvestia article.

Negotiations between Putin and Witkoff

Russian President Vladimir Putin received US President's special envoy Stephen Witkoff in the Kremlin on Wednesday afternoon. The official meeting was also attended by Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, and the conversation lasted three hours, the press service of the head of state reported. The motorcade carrying the US President's special envoy Witkoff has left the Kremlin, a RIA Novosti correspondent reports. At the same time, there were no press statements after the conversation.

Witkoff arrived in Moscow on the morning of August 6. According to the Izvestia source, Kirill Dmitriev, the special representative of the President of Russia for cooperation with foreign countries, met him at Vnukovo airport. Later, Witkoff, accompanied by Dmitriev, visited Zaryadye Park in Moscow.

Russia's position on the negotiations

In early August, an informal meeting of the Presidents of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, took place in Valaam. In their conversation, they touched upon a wide range of international issues, from the deployment of the serial "Hazel Tree" on the territory of Belarus to possible negotiations between Moscow and Kiev.

During the dialogue, Vladimir Putin commented on Vladimir Zelensky's words that it allegedly makes no sense to negotiate now and we must wait for the regime change in Russia.

"Well, in principle, we can wait. If the Ukrainian leadership believes that now is not the time, but it is necessary to wait, please, we are ready to wait," the Russian leader said.

On the way: Putin announced the offensive of the Russian Armed Forces along the entire line of contact

The Russian President also spoke about the production of "Oreshnik" and revealed the details of the liberation of the city of Chasov Yar.

The results of Stephen Witkoff's visits to Russia

In 2025, Witkoff visited Russia four times: in February, March and twice in April. Trump's special envoy met with Russian diplomats, and then personally with Vladimir Putin.

This has led to some movement in the peace settlement process in Ukraine. Moscow and Kiev managed to hold three rounds of negotiations in Istanbul, and a series of the largest prisoner exchanges took place during their time. Russia has transferred more than six thousand bodies of the dead to Ukraine.

Following the results of the third round in Istanbul, which ended on July 23, the parties discussed the positions set out in the draft memoranda and agreed to exchange not only military but also civilians.

In addition, Russia has offered Ukraine to create three online working groups to address political, military and humanitarian issues.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin emphasized to Izvestia after the last round that Russia was counting on the fourth round of negotiations.

Q&A: Why is Witkoff going to Russia

The Special Envoy arrives on the eve of Trump's deadline for a settlement with Ukraine

As for Witkoff's visits, after the special envoy's second visit to Moscow in March 2025, Trump, according to Western media, was allegedly disappointed that negotiations had not led to significant results in resolving the conflict in Ukraine.

During Witkoff's last visit, which took place almost four months ago, Moscow and Washington discussed the possibility of returning to direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. However, there was no further development of the topic.

The result of Trump's impatience this time was threats against Russia's oil and gas counterparties — primarily China and India — to increase secondary duties on goods due to purchases of Russian hydrocarbons.

However, the experts interviewed by Izvestia are not expecting a breakthrough in the settlement of the situation in Ukraine this time either. They do not rule out that through Witkoff, the White House intends to clarify exactly what restrictions the Russian economy may face after the deadline for threats from the head of the White House expires.