Putin Meets Witkoff as Ukraine Considers Territorial Concessions for “Temporary Peace”

Watan-Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet today in Moscow with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff, a day after Russia expressed its willingness to conclude a deal with Ukraine.

According to the Interfax news agency, a source confirmed that Witkoff arrived in Moscow and is expected to meet with Putin today, Friday.

This visit follows a statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who declared Russia’s readiness to finalize an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. Lavrov, in an interview with CBS, said that U.S. President Donald Trump “talks about an agreement, and we are ready to sign one, but some specific elements still need fine-tuning.” He added, “There are several indicators that show we are moving in the right direction,” amidst tense negotiations, particularly regarding the issue of Crimea.

In response to questions about the new wave of airstrikes on Ukraine that occurred late Wednesday and Thursday, which left at least 12 dead and dozens injured in Kyiv, Lavrov stated: “We target only military sites or civilian locations used by the military.” He continued, “If it involves a target used by the Ukrainian army, the Ministry of Defense and commanders on the ground have the right to strike it.”

Trump’s Response and Pressure on Russia

On Thursday, Trump directed a sharp rebuke at Putin, telling him “Vladimir, stop!” following the new strikes on Kyiv. However, Trump also set a personal deadline to resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict, pledging during his election campaign to end the war on his first day in office. Speaking to reporters at the White House ahead of a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Trump said: “I have set a deadline for myself.” He later stated that the coming days would be critical for his efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia, though he did not provide further details. He and his aides expressed frustration with how Russia and Ukraine were handling his peace efforts.

Trump emphasized that he was putting significant pressure on Russia to agree to end the war in Ukraine, asserting that Moscow would make “a very big concession” if it agreed not to control the entire country. “We are putting strong pressure on Russia,” Trump said. When asked about the nature of the concession, he replied, “Stop the war,” adding that “stopping the control of the entire country” would be “a very big concession” from Russia. He stressed that Ukraine must also be “willing to reach an agreement.”

Kyiv Mayor: Ukraine May Have to Relinquish Land for ‘Temporary Peace’

In an interview with the BBC, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that Ukraine may have to surrender some land to Russia in order to achieve a “temporary peace” with Moscow. Klitschko said in English: “One of the scenarios… might involve giving up some land. This is not fair, but for peace, temporary peace. It could be a temporary solution.” President Zelensky, who has previously been criticized by Klitschko, might have to accept a “painful solution” to end the fighting. However, Klitschko emphasized that Ukraine would “never accept occupation” by Russia.

Zelensky: Russia Tried to Use Airstrikes as Cover for Ground Attacks

Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported early Friday that Russian forces attempted to use intense airstrikes as cover for intensified ground assaults, but these attacks were repelled. Zelensky shared on Telegram: “The Russians tried, under the cover of heavy airstrikes, to make ground progress,” citing information from Ukrainian Army Commander Oleksandr Syrskyi. “While our forces focused their maximum efforts on defense against missiles and drones, the Russians continued their intense ground attacks. But they were effectively repelled.”

On Thursday, Zelensky also confirmed that the Russian missile that hit a residential building in Kyiv the previous night, killing 12 people, was supplied by North Korea. According to a Ukrainian military source speaking to Reuters, the missile was a North Korean-made KN-23 (KN-23A) that struck a residential building in the Svyatoshinsky district west of central Kyiv during a major Russian airstrike.

Zelensky posted on X: “Preliminary information suggests that the Russians used a ballistic missile manufactured in North Korea. Our intelligence services are verifying all the details,” though he did not provide further specifics. The Ukrainian source stated that the KN-23 (KN-23A) missiles are equipped with warheads weighing up to a ton, making them more powerful than their Russian counterparts.