Trump envoys meet Putin to discuss Ukraine war resolution

Donald Trump’s envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, recently met with Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. During the meeting, Putin expressed confidence in achieving his military goals, stating that Russian forces could occupy the entire Donbas region within months and warning of intensified strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid ahead of winter.

In response, Jared Kushner challenged the Russian leader by noting that similar claims had been made a year prior, questioning the utility of another year of stalemate. The exchange highlights the tension within the Trump administration as it navigates conflicting approaches to the conflict.

While the U.S. Congress has passed a bipartisan bill to impose heavy sanctions on the Russian energy sector—including potential 100 percent tariffs on countries purchasing significant amounts of Russian oil or gas—the Trump administration is simultaneously considering offering economic incentives to Moscow. Some officials believe these incentives could encourage Russia to consider ending the war, potentially involving business agreements between the White House and the Kremlin before the conflict officially concludes.