White House envoy Steve Witkoff met on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin. Why it matters: The fourth meeting between Witkoff and Putin comes a day after President Trump made a public demand that Russia stop its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine and focus on negotiating a peace deal.

After claiming to have ended Ukraine's incursion into Kursk — with North Korean help — Russia says it is ready to hold peace talks with Kyiv. But President Trump has cast doubt on Putin's remarks and theatened sanctions.