This week, Steve Whitcoff is making a trip to Russia.
Talks Afloat:Steve Whitcoff, the U.S. President's special envoy to Russia, is slated to fly to Russia this week according to the Wall Street Journal. This visit follows a conference in London, where US, European, and Ukrainian officials will convene on April 23. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin's press secretary, gave a smidgeon of insider information, promising an update about Whitcoff's visit to the Russian territories [1][2].
History Repeats itself:This marks Steve Whitcoff's fourth visit to Russia, with his last meeting, on April 11, taking place with President Vladimir Putin. Their lengthy chitchat focused on various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement [1].
Fortune Awaits:In an optimistic turn of events, Whitcoff hinted at an "impending" agreement between Moscow and Kyiv. He believes that the core issue of resolving the Ukrainian conflict revolves around the affiliation of five regions, but a peace agreement doesn't stop there [3].
Easing the Shackles:According to sources, the U.S. proposes easing sanctions on Russia if hostilities in Ukraine cease for a significant period. This plan, announced in the Paris talks, also involves renouncing discussions on Ukraine's NATO membership and preserving territories already annexed by Russia [4].
But the Ukrainian and European stance demands that any sanction easing takes place only after a "sustainable peace" has been attained [5]. It's a tough call, but the pressure remains heavy on Russia till they accept the agreement.
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- Sources:
- WSJ
- Reuters
- Bloomberg
- Sky News
- Ukrinform
- Steve Whitcoff, the US President's special envoy to Russia, is believed to be ready to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine with President Vladimir Putin, after the U.S., European, and Ukrainian officials convene in London on April 23.
- The Kremlin's press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, has indicated a possible abandonment of the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, as Whitcoff visits Russian territories this week, following their last meeting with Putin on April 11.
- Sources suggest that the general news surrounding the negotiations includes the possibility of Russia readily adopting a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, leading to the easing of current sanctions imposed on Russia.
- However, any sanction easing will likely only occur after a sustainable peace has been achieved, as per the demands of both Ukraine and the European Union. The Ukrainian and Russian territories remain a hot topic in politics.
