Russians voice 'desire' to meet Trump, White House says after Moscow meeting

WASHINGTON

Russian officials "expressed their desire" to have a sit-down with US President Donald Trump during a critical meeting with his special envoy in Moscow, the White House said Wednesday.

Spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reiterated in a statement that "great progress" was made during Steve Witkoff's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and said Trump "is open to meeting with both President Putin and President Zelensky."

"President Trump wants this brutal war to end," she added. Leavitt was using an alternative spelling for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Witkoff arrived in Moscow earlier Wednesday on his fifth visit to Russia since the start of the year. He last met Putin on April 25. The visit came two days before Trump's 10-day deadline for Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

Yuri Ushakov, a top aide to Putin, said the meeting was "useful and constructive.” The officials, he said, discussed the Kremlin's war against Ukraine and prospects for the development of strategic cooperation between Moscow and Washington.

He said Russia conveyed "some signals" on the conflict, and "corresponding signals" were received on behalf of Trump.

In June, Trump gave Russia a 50-day window, after which he threatened to impose import duties of up to 100% on Russia and its trading partners unless Moscow and Kyiv reach a peace agreement.

On July 29, Trump said he decided to reduce that deadline to 10 days because of his "disappointment" with Putin.

A Bloomberg report said Russia is considering options for a concession to Trump, including a pause on drone and missile strikes, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The report added that an "air pause" may be one of Russia's potential proposals, provided that Ukraine also agreed to take part.