Conflict: Russia would have sent certain signals to the Ukrainian file

The Kremlin described as “useful and constructive” discussions on Wednesday in Moscow between Donald Trump’s emissary, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin, two days before the expiration of the American ultimatum aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The meeting ended in the afternoon after “almost three hours” of discussions, wrote the official Russian news agency Tass, without giving more details.

“A very useful and constructive conversation took place” at the Kremlin on the conflict in Ukraine and Russian-American relations, for his part declared to the press the diplomatic advisor of the Russian head of state, Iouri Ouchakov, assuring that Russia had “sent certain signals” on the Ukrainian issue.

Vladimir Putin and the American envoy, welcomed upon his arrival in the morning in Moscow by the special representative of President Kirill Dmitriev, had warmly led his hand, the air smiling, at the start of their meeting in a sumptuous room, according to the images broadcast by the press service of the Russian presidency.

Mr. Witkoff, who is Donald Trump’s trusted man for “peace missions”, has already met Mr. Putin several times, but none of these interviews led the latter to change course.

Relations between Russia and the United States have been experiencing sudden tensions suddenly with Donald Trump’s deployment of two nuclear submarines since last week, following an online argument with former Russian head of state Dmitri Medvedev.

The American president had not specified, however, where exactly the submarines would be sent, nor if they were nuclear propulsion submersibles or atomic warheads.

Donald Trump gave Russia until Friday until Friday to end her offensive in Ukraine, under penalty of new sanctions.

He notably threatened to inflict “secondary customs rights” on countries that continue to trade with Moscow, such as China and India.

Questioned Tuesday at the White House to find out if he was going to impose from 100%surcharge, Mr. Trump retorted that he had “never spoken of a percentage”, before adding: “But we are going to do a lot in this direction”. “We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow. We will see what will happen. We will make this decision at that time, “he said.

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, for his part, urged Wednesday to “strengthen all the levers available to the United States, Europe and the G7” against Russia, shortly after the arrival of Mr. Witkoff in the Russian capital.

He had already announced Tuesday that he had mentioned sanctions against Russia and military cooperation on the phone with Donald Trump, mentioning a “draft drones agreement”.

The American president now expresses his frustration more and more openly with regard to Vladimir Putin.

To journalists who asked him on Monday what would be Mr. Witkoff’s message to Russia and if there was a way for it to avoid sanctions, he replied: “Yes, concluding an agreement for people to stop being killed”.

The Kremlin has denounced “illegitimate” threats.

Despite the pressure exerted by Washington, the Russian offensive against his neighbor continues. In Ukraine, Russian drone strikes wounded three on Wednesday at dawn in the Zaporijjia region and two in that of Kherson, according to regional military authorities.

On the other side of the front line, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the interception of 51 Ukrainian drones on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday.

To strengthen the defenses of Ukraine, Sweden, Denmark and Norway announced on Tuesday their intention to buy weapons from American reserves.

Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo will donate military aid with a total value of $ 500 million, including anti -aircraft defense systems, anti -tank weapons, ammunition and spare parts.

On Monday evening, the Netherlands announced a donation of 500 million euros as part of this initiative, called “Poul” (“list of priority needs of Ukraine”).

Vladimir Putin, who has always rejected calls to a provisional ceasefire, said on Friday that he wanted peace, but that his requirements to end the conflict remained unchanged.

Russia claims from Ukraine that it gives up to him four partially occupied regions (Donetsk, Lougansk, Zaporijjia, Kherson), in addition to the Crimea annexed in 2014, and that it renounces Western arms deliveries and any membership in the Atlantic Alliance. Conditions deemed unacceptable by kyiv.