Russia says it's 'ready to strike deal' as US envoy Witkoff gets warm welcome at the Kremlin

LAST UPDATE | 19 hrs ago

RUSSIA HAS SAID it is ready to strike a deal to end its war on Ukraine as US envoy Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin this afternoon, where the two discussed the possibility of direct negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow.

Video published by Russian state media showed Witkoff meeting Putin at the Kremlin, with the two smiling, shaking hands and exchanging a few words in English before beginning talks.

The billionaire real estate investor has already met Putin three times during the US push for an end to the conflict in Ukraine. 

“There was a three-hour conversation that was constructive and very useful,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters, adding that “there was a discussion on the possibility of renewing direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine.”

US President Donald Trump yesterday rebuked Putin over a missile attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv that left 12 people dead. Trump urged the Russian president to get a peace deal over the line. 

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes,” Trump posted online. “Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP!”

Despite Trump’s rare condemnation of his Russian counterpart, Ukraine is being pressured to accept terms that would cede Crimea, a 27,000 square-kilometre region (slightly larger than the size of Munster) in the south of the country that has been illegally annexed by Russia since 2014. 

Trump has said in an interview that “Crimea will stay with Russia”.

“Zelenskyy understands that,” Trump said, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, adding: “Everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time.”

Vladimir Putin welcomes Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin
Source: Alamy Stock Photo

Earlier today, a senior Russian general was killed when the car he was in exploded not far from Moscow. While Ukraine has claimed responsibility for similar attacks in the past, it has made no comment about today's explosion.

'Vicious and brutal'

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said today that Ireland and the European Union do not recognise Russian sovereignty over any part of Ukraine, including Crimea. 

Harris said that a settlement that rewards the aggressor "is not my idea of peace". He also condemned the latest Russian bombardment as ""vicious and brutal". 

"Of course, everybody wants to see peace, but how peace is brought about matters," Harris told reporters while visiting Renmore Barracks in Galway ahead of Irish troop deployment to Lebanon. 

"Peace that rewards the aggressor is not my understanding of peace," he said.

 "Peace has to respect the territorial integrity of Ukraine. It has to respect the UN charter. And it also has to understand that there's only one aggressor here, and that aggressor is Russia." 

Harris added that the Europe, which has been sidelined in the US-led negotiations, "stands ready" to join the talks. He also said that Ukraine needs to be at the table as well. 

"There can be nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine."

'Ready to reach a deal'

Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Russia is "ready to reach a deal, but there are still some specific points... which need to be fine-tuned".

In an interview with CBS News, Lavrov said talks are moving in the right direction and that negotiations would continue alongside the US.

Advertisement

Lavrov said Trump was "probably the only leader on Earth who recognised the need to address the root causes of this situation" but that he "did not spell out the elements of the deal". 

Trump, who is accused of favouring Russia and has often vilified Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was asked by reporters yesterday what concessions Russia has offered in negotiations on ending the war.

"Stopping taking the whole country - pretty big concession," he said.

Attack on Kyiv

Russian aerial attacks have pounded Ukraine since it launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Deadly strikes on Kyiv, which is better protected by air defences than other parts of the country, have been less common, but Russia conducted a massive attack on the capital in the early hours of yesterday morning.

Air raid sirens blared across Kyiv around 1am on Thursday morning (11pm Wednesday night Irish time).

Russia fired at least 70 missiles and 145 drones at Ukraine over the course of several hours, with Kyiv being the main target.

The death toll in Kyiv’s Sviatoshinsky district has reached 12 people as of yesterday evening.

Dozens more individuals were injured and required medical attention.

Territorial control

Zelenskyy cut short a visit to South Africa to deal with the aftermath of the attacks.

He highlighted that Trump had previously warned of repercussions for Russia if it did not agree to pause the fighting.

"I don't see any strong pressure on Russia or any new sanctions packages against Russia's aggression," Zelenskyy said.

On the question of control of Crimea and the role it's playing in peace negotiations, Zelenskyy said: "We do everything that our partners have proposed; only what contradicts our legislation and the Constitution we cannot do."

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, speaking to the BBC, has said that Ukraine may have to give up land as part of a peace deal with Russia due to the pressure coming from Trump, even though it would be "not fair".

"One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It's not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary," Klitschko said.

He added that Ukraine would "never accept occupation" overall by Russia. 

Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte said yesterday after a meeting with Trump at the White House that it is Russia, not Ukraine, that needs to move forward in negotiations. "The balls are clearly in the Russian court now," Rutte said.

Meanwhile, in Odesa, Irish funding has helped to open an underground school shelter.

Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne visited Ukraine yesterday to open the shelter, which was co-funded by Ireland with Lithuania and the European Commission.

"As I arrive in Ukraine, I want to condemn Russia’s latest missile attacks on Kyiv, Odesa and other cities," Byrne said.

“It is an outrage that we need to build underground shelters for school children in Ukraine. But these shelters have become a necessity as a direct result of Russia’s illegal and unjustified full-scale invasion."

Additional reporting by AFP and David Mac Redmond

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More Support The Journal