Witkoff, Putin and Trump’s envoy in Kremlin to discuss sanctions and breakthroughs

MOSCOW - Steve Witkoff arrived at the Kremlin to meet Vladimir Putin on his fifth visit to Russia this year, reports Il Fatto Quotidiano. Donald Trump's special envoy is in the Russian capital on a last-minute mission to seek a breakthrough in the war in Ukraine, two days before the deadline set by the White House for Russia to accept peace in Ukraine under threat of new secondary sanctions in Moscow for countries that purchase Russian energy. Witkoff was welcomed by Kirill Dmitriev, Russia's special envoy for investment and head of its sovereign wealth fund. Late Tuesday evening, Trump said he would decide on sanctions after today's meeting.

The Financial Times reports that the Trump administration is considering imposing sanctions on Russia's ‘shadow fleet’ of oil tankers if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire by Friday. Blacklisting the fleet's ships would mark the first time the US has imposed sanctions on Moscow since Trump returned to the White House in January, the newspaper comments. Russia has used a shadow fleet composed largely of obsolete tankers to transport oil around the world in an attempt to circumvent Western restrictions. The proceeds from these crude oil exports have helped finance the conflict.

The term ‘shadow fleet’ refers to ships whose ownership is hidden and which avoid using the services of Western companies, explains the FT, pointing out that it is difficult to impose sanctions on their owners, even though measures targeting the ships themselves have recently proved effective. The Biden administration has added 213 cargo ships, including oil tankers, to the sanctions list, while Trump has so far postponed imposing further sanctions on Russia in an attempt to secure a negotiated agreement to end the war.

Trump, increasingly frustrated with Putin over the lack of progress towards a ceasefire, has threatened to impose high tariffs on countries that buy Russian products. The tycoon is putting particular pressure on India, which, along with China, is a major buyer of Russian oil. The Kremlin says threats to penalise countries that trade with Russia are illegal.

It is unlikely, Reuters reports, that Putin will bow to Trump's ultimatum on sanctions because he believes he has the upper hand in the war against Kiev and his military objectives take precedence over his desire to improve relations with the United States, three sources close to the Kremlin told the agency. But according to Bloomberg, citing sources close to Moscow, the Kremlin is considering offering the United States concessions that could include an air truce with Ukraine.

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