Trump has threatened Putin with direct and secondary sanctions, the latter targeting those who buy oil or gas from Russia. Donald Trump's negotiator, Steve Witkoff, has arrived in Moscow for a crucial meeting: one that has to convince Vladimir Putin to accept a total ceasefire in Ukraine (something that has not happened since this negotiating effort began in January) before the deadline of his ultimatum.

The Russian president and Trump emissary held talks in Moscow days before the White House deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

The White House is racing to beat another self-imposed deadline to resolve Russia’s war in Ukraine, with President Donald Trump leaning hard on his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to get Moscow to halt the fighting.