U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday called on Russia to end its ongoing war in Ukraine, labeling the conflict “senseless” just hours before his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, began high-level talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg.
“Russia has to get moving,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, reiterating his stance that the war, which began over three years ago with Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, “should have never happened.”
Trump has been pushing for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine since returning to the White House in January, but so far, efforts to broker peace have yielded few tangible results. Repeated meetings between U.S. and Russian officials have failed to produce any significant breakthroughs.
The latest round of diplomacy saw Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, sit down with Putin for over four hours in a closed-door meeting at the presidential library in St. Petersburg. According to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, the talks addressed “various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement.” However, he cautioned that “there is no need to expect any breakthroughs,” adding that the process of normalizing relations between Washington and Moscow is still in progress.
The meeting marks Witkoff’s third visit to Russia this year and highlights his growing involvement in foreign affairs, despite his primary role as Trump’s envoy to the Middle East. A longtime associate of Trump from the real estate world, Witkoff has raised eyebrows for his glowing remarks about Putin, previously calling the Russian leader a “great leader” and “not a bad guy” following their last meeting.
These remarks reflect a dramatic shift in Washington’s tone toward Moscow under Trump’s renewed leadership. While the Biden administration had maintained a hardline stance against Russia, Trump has signaled a more conciliatory approach, despite tensions over the war in Ukraine.
The situation on the ground remains volatile. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of intentionally stalling peace talks and claimed that hundreds of Chinese nationals are now fighting alongside Russian forces on the frontlines—raising further alarm among Western allies.
Last month, Trump expressed frustration over the lack of progress in talks, telling NBC News that he was “furious” with Putin’s unwillingness to compromise. Top U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio echoed this sentiment, warning that the United States would not entertain “endless negotiations” with Moscow.
Despite the ongoing efforts, skepticism remains high in Kyiv and among NATO partners, many of whom suspect that Moscow is merely using diplomacy as a delay tactic. Still, Trump appears committed to pursuing a deal, even as doubts linger over Russia’s willingness to end the conflict.
Whether this latest meeting will lead to any real momentum remains to be seen, but for now, Trump’s administration is signaling a strong desire to bring the war to a close—however elusive that goal may prove.
