**Witkoff's Third Summit with Putin Amid Trump’s Urgent Call for Ceasefire**

**In a crucial meeting, US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed ongoing conflicts while Trump pressures for a ceasefire.**

 

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in what marks their third encounter this year, highlighting the ongoing struggle for a ceasefire in Ukraine. In conjunction with the meeting, former President Donald Trump publicly expressed his frustration via social media, urging Putin to "get moving" on peace talks. Trump emphasized the dire humanitarian impact of the conflict, noting, "Russia has to get moving. Too many people are DYING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war."

This summit coincides with a significant gathering held in Brussels, where the UK and Germany brought together allies of Ukraine to pledge an impressive €21 billion (£18.2 billion) in military support. The urgency of this aid underlines the pressing situation in Ukraine as the war continues.

While Witkoff engages with Putin in St. Petersburg, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov tempered expectations, indicating that while dialogue is necessary, "there's no need to expect breakthroughs" at this time, suggesting that the process of rebuilding diplomatic relations is still in progress. As the international community continues to rally for Ukraine, the potential for future negotiations remains uncertain.