U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to a "permanent peace" agreement with Ukraine. This statement follows a five-hour meeting between Witkoff and Putin in St. Petersburg, marking their third discussion since Trump's return to office in January 2025. Witkoff described the talks as "compelling" and indicated that a peace deal could soon materialize, addressing territorial disputes and opening opportunities for broader U.S.-Russia collaboration and regional stability.

However, skepticism persists regarding Russia's intentions. Shortly after the meeting, a devastating Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Sumy resulted in 34 civilian deaths, including two children. This incident, the deadliest since October 2023, has intensified internal debate within the Trump administration. Senior aides, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, are urging President Trump to adopt a tougher stance toward Russia, arguing that Putin may not be sincere about achieving peace.

The Kremlin characterized the meeting between Putin and Witkoff as productive but clarified that a direct Trump-Putin summit has not yet been arranged. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that restoring relations would require continued patient effort.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged President Trump to visit Ukraine to witness the war’s impact firsthand, encouraging informed decision-making based on civilian and wartime realities.

As discussions continue, the international community remains watchful of the developments and the potential for a lasting resolution to the conflict.​