US special envoy Steve Witkoff and a Russian negotiator met on Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, days after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Vladimir Putin over the lack of momentum on negotiations toward a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff held a meeting in Washington with the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Kirill Dmitriev, who visited the American capital, reports Reuters. According to two US officials familiar with the matter,

Steve Witkoff, the U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, expressed confidence in Vladimir Putin, stating that he does not believe Putin intends to take over Europe. The Russian press has responded positively to this sentiment with enthusiastic articles.