Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Donald Trump's top envoy in St. Petersburg as part of efforts to get stalled peace talks back on track.
Steve Witkoff shook Putin's hand as the two began their meeting, which comes against a backdrop of rising tensions between Moscow and Washington.
Trump said on social media shortly before they met: "Russia must act. Too many people are DIEING, thousands a week, in a terrible and senseless war."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned against having high expectations for a "breakthrough" at the St. Petersburg meeting.
Earlier on Friday, the EU's top diplomat raised concerns about Britain's plan for a Readiness Coalition to police any future ceasefire. Kaja Kallas said talks in Brussels had not progressed, prompting John Healey, the defence secretary, to insist they were "really real".
⚡️ President of Russia Vladimir Putin receives the US Special Envoy @SteveWitkoff
— MFA Russia ???????? (@mfa_russia) April 11, 2025
The meeting has begun: https://t.co/C41iliGFGm pic.twitter.com/nPCwMThQwP