Trump envoy received with open arms by grinning Putin for what could be the final US peace talks
Russian President Vladimir Putin welcomed US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff with open arms and a wide grin Friday, photos show — as the two met in Moscow for what could be the last round of US talks to convince him to end his brutal war on Ukraine.Witkoff mirrored Putin’s smile, greeting him like an old friend, the photos show.The envoy will be presenting the Russian leader with a proposed peace plan.
President Trump has repeatedly insisted this week that he is ready to abandon the US role in the talks should Ukraine and Russia not agree to the proposal.Some insiders and experts, however, question why Trump would give up his efforts to achieve peace without first following through on threats to sanction Russia — or otherwise apply tangible pressure in any way.“Where is the ‘strength’ in ‘peace through strength’?” one former official from Trump’s first administration told The Post.“He’s strong on Ukraine, but nothing for Russia?”“The Russia ‘collusion’ was a hoax in Trump 1,” another added.
“But Trump 2.0, I’m not so sure.”Ukraine has already spoken out against the proposed plan after agreeing to a previous one in London with European and US leaders.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday said the plan was suddenly switched out for one that included a red line for Kyiv: the recognition of Ukraine’s Crimea as Russian.Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine during Moscow’s initial invasion of the country in 2014.A recognition of the territory as Russian would break both the Ukrainian constitution and longtime US foreign policy under the Welles Declaration, which holds Washington will not recognize annexed territory as belonging to the aggressor.Despite Kyiv agreeing immediately to a previous Trump-proposed temporary cease-fire — while Moscow rejected it — Russia has consistently and blatantly attempted to paint Ukraine as the party to blame for the dragged-out talks.Trump had hoped to end the war on hi...