U.S. Envoy Says Russia Made Early Concessions in Trump-Putin Talks

U.S. Special Envoy for Peace Missions Steve Witkoff said Moscow offered “almost immediate” concessions during the first round of talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska last week. In a 20 Aug. television interview, Witkoff described the session as substantive enough that negotiators extended their stay to explore a framework for ending the war in Ukraine. According to Witkoff, the discussions focused on a durable peace agreement rather than a short-term cease-fire, and the early Russian proposals encouraged U.S. officials to test how far the Kremlin was willing to move. He did not specify the concessions or outline a timeline, but said the parties had made “progress on how we might get to a peace deal.” The envoy added that European leaders were later briefed at the White House and remained on site for an extended period because of the momentum generated in Alaska. Neither the Kremlin nor the White House has publicly detailed the substance of the offer, and formal negotiations have not yet been scheduled.