MOSCOW: A crucial meeting between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin is underway at the Kremlin, Russian media reported on Wednesday. Witkoff’s visit comes as Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine approaches.

President Trump has warned Moscow of severe economic sanctions, including secondary sanctions targeting countries that continue trading with Russia, if it does not take steps to halt the “horrible war” in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed support for stricter sanctions, stating Russia will only consider peace when its financial resources are depleted. He also endorsed US proposals for tariffs on nations purchasing Russian oil.

Images from Russian outlets showed Putin and Witkoff shaking hands and smiling at the Kremlin, though expectations for a breakthrough before Friday remain low. Meanwhile, Russia has intensified its air assaults on Ukraine, ignoring US threats.

Trump, who once claimed he could end the war “within a day” upon taking office in January, has hardened his stance towards Moscow following repeated escalations. “We thought we had [the war] settled numerous times, and then President Putin launches rockets into Kyiv, killing innocent civilians,” Trump remarked last month.

Diplomatic efforts have stalled. Three rounds of Ukraine-Russia talks in Istanbul failed to yield progress, while the Kremlin continues to reject Zelensky’s calls for direct talks with Putin. Russia’s preconditions for peace remain unacceptable to Ukraine and its Western allies.

Amid these tensions, the US administration approved an additional $200 million in military aid to Ukraine on Tuesday. The decision followed a phone call between Zelensky and Trump discussing defense cooperation and drone production.

Ukraine has leveraged drones to target Russian refineries and energy infrastructure, while Russia persists with relentless airstrikes on Ukrainian cities.

The Kyiv City Military Administration reported the death toll from last week’s missile strike on Kyiv has risen to 32, marking it as the deadliest attack on the capital since the invasion began. Additionally, Russian forces struck a holiday camp in Zaporizhzhia on Wednesday, killing two and injuring 12 civilians.

“There’s no military logic in these attacks; it’s pure terror to intimidate people,” Zelensky said.