Payam Javan: U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for three hours on Wednesday in a last-minute diplomatic effort to de-escalate the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting comes just two days before a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Russia to agree to a peace deal or face new sanctions. According to Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, the talks were “useful and constructive,” with both sides exchanging “signals” on the Ukraine issue and discussing the potential for future strategic cooperation between Moscow and Washington. Ushakov declined to provide further details, stating that Witkoff must first brief President Trump.

The surprise mission follows more than three years of war since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. While the U.S. side has not yet commented on the outcome, Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev expressed optimism on social media, posting, “Dialogue will prevail.” The meeting highlights ongoing high-stakes diplomacy as the Trump administration pressures for a resolution to the conflict and seeks to prevent a new round of sanctions against Russia.