Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy, reached Moscow on Wednesday to talk with Russian officials—possibly even President Vladimir Putin—just days before Donald Trump’s ceasefire deadline for the Ukraine war expires.

Trump had earlier given Putin 50 days to agree to a ceasefire. But late last month, he shortened the timeline to just 10 to 12 days. This new deadline ends this week. However, Putin has not shown any interest in stopping the war. His military continues to attack Ukrainian civilians. His recent statements also suggest he does not want peace.

If there is no ceasefire, Trump has threatened new penalties. These include sanctions and higher tariffs on Russia and countries that trade with it. He has already imposed a 25% tariff on India and warned that he may raise it even more. He also plans to add further restrictions because of India’s trade with Russia.

Ajit Doval Also in Moscow Amid US-Russia Tensions

Interestingly, India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval is also in Moscow. His visit had been scheduled before Witkoff’s arrival. Still, there are rumors that the two might meet, possibly to manage growing tensions between Washington and New Delhi. However, no official confirmation has been made.

Putin Shows No Sign of Backing Down

Witkoff’s arrival comes just before Trump’s Friday deadline for a ceasefire. The Kremlin had earlier said that Witkoff might meet Putin during the visit. But so far, Putin has shown no sign of agreeing to peace. In fact, he seems to reject the idea. Last week, he referred indirectly to Trump’s warning, saying, “All disappointments arise from inflated expectations.” He added that Russia’s enemies want “to stop our advance at any cost.” This made it clear that Russia would not pause its ground operations.

According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, three sources said Putin believes Russia is winning the war. He also thinks that any new US sanctions won’t seriously hurt the Russian economy. Two of these sources said Putin still wants to avoid angering Trump. But for now, his military goals remain more important. One source also mentioned that Putin’s current aim is to fully control the Ukrainian provinces of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

Could Putin Use a Ceasefire as a Tactical Pause?

Still, some experts think Putin might use the ceasefire to his advantage. Analysts believe he may want a short break in the war. This would give him time to rebuild his army and gather weapons. If so, he might agree to a temporary truce just to avoid immediate US retaliation.

Steve Witkoff could help make that happen. He has long been seen as friendly toward Russia and Putin. If Putin does decide to pause the war, Witkoff might be the best person to persuade Trump.

Kseniya Kirillova, a Russia expert at the Jamestown Foundation, told Firstpost, “For Putin, the ideal scenario is to freeze the conflict for a while, build up strength, and then resume the war — ideally with a more plausible pretext, such as accusing Ukraine of failing to comply with peace agreements.”

Delay in Russian Defence Deliveries May Feature in Doval Talks

Doval is expected to discuss the delayed delivery of Russian defence systems during his Moscow visit. According to The Hindu, one of the main topics will be the S-400 air defence systems. Russia had signed several military deals with India, including the S-400 and navy ships, but it has failed to deliver them on time. The Ukraine war has diverted Russian resources, slowing down its arms exports.

The Hindu also reported that Doval may bring up US tariffs during his discussions in Moscow.