Steven Witkoff, the special representative of the United States, described Vladimir Putin, the leader of Russia, as a "human" during a face-to-face meeting and praised him. Witkoff said in this meeting held in St. Petersburg, "You talk a lot about my president, Donald Trump, and consider him a human. You are also a human, Mr. Putin, and I respect this, I admire you, and I thank you again." These remarks were showcased in a video clip released by Russian state media.
New Efforts for Negotiations
Witkoff's visit is politically significant as it represents new efforts by the United States to bring Moscow and Kyiv back to the negotiating table after four and a half years since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. Witkoff previously met with Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, in Oslo on Tuesday and is expected to propose holding a trilateral negotiation between Zelensky, Putin, and Donald Trump.
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Continued Russian Attacks on Ukraine
While diplomatic efforts are underway, Russian attacks on Kyiv and Kharkiv continue, with local officials reporting that three people lost their lives last night. According to United Nations data, 328 civilians were killed in September alone due to Putin's attacks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Kremlin forces are bombing energy infrastructure across the country, especially with the winter season approaching.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court also issued an arrest warrant for Putin due to the forced transfer of children to Russia following the outbreak of the war with Ukraine. This warrant and the ongoing attacks on civilians and energy infrastructure have intensified the humanitarian and political dimensions of the Ukraine crisis.
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