Trump envoy holds ‘constructive’ talks with Putin hours after top Russian general killed in Moscow car bomb
by Josef Al Shemary · LBCBy Josef Al Shemary
Donald Trump's envoy had 'constructive' talks with Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin, just hours after a senior Russian general was killed in a car bomb in Moscow.
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The pair reportedly discussed the possibility of direct ceasefire negotiations between Ukraine and Russia.
Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks between the Russian president and Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff were 'constructive and quite useful'.
Witkoff has visited Russia a number of times, this being his fourth trip in recent months, as Trump suggests the US is close to brokering a peace deal.
“The next few days are going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now,” Trump told reporters on Thursday.
“I think we’re going to make a deal … I think we’re getting very close.”
While it was not immediately clear what was specifically discussed in the meeting, Ushakov said the two sides had "narrowed differences".
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He told reporters after the meeting that direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were discussed.
Putin's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Witkoff had left Moscow with a message for Trump, but did not provide further details. Witkoff did not immediately comment on the outcome of the meting either.
The high-stakes meeting took place mere hours after a senior Russian general was killed in a car bomb outside a block of flats in Moscow.
Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, who was a senior officer within the strategy unit of the Russian armed forces, was blown up on Friday in the Balashikha suburb of the Russian capital.
Russian state prosecutors have launched an investigation into Mr Moskalik's death, which they said was caused by a home-made explosive device.
No one has claimed responsibility for the bomb.
Russian outlet Baza, known to have links to the security services, said that the Volkswagen was detonated remotely when Moskalik - who lived locally - walked past.
Footage of the incident shows a car exploding in a large fireball outside the residential block at around 10.40am local time (7.40am in the UK).
Windows of neighbouring flats were blown out by the blast.
Some reports have claimed that two people were killed in the explosion, although this has not been confirmed either.
The area where the bomb went off was built specifically for retired military officers, Russian media report.
The Volkswagen does not appear to have belonged to Moskalik. Its last owner seems to have been a Ukrainian man from the border town of Sumy.
It comes as Russia continues to bombard Ukraine despite Kremlin officials and Donald Trump claiming a peace deal is close.
An attack on Kyiv on Thursday killed 12 and wounded dozens.
Keir Starmer has insisted that Ukraine must be able to decide its own future, after Mr Trump criticised Volodymyr Zelenskyy for being reluctant to agree to the peace deal in its current form.