All smiles in the Kremlin as Putin sits down with Trump's deal-maker

A significant meeting took place in the Kremlin between Steve Witkoff, a special envoy from Donald Trump, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The images released by the White House showed both men smiling and shaking hands, indicating a friendly atmosphere. Witkoff expressed his delight at seeing Putin, and it was evident from his broad smile that he was genuinely pleased. This meeting marked their fourth encounter in just over two months, suggesting that Witkoff has spent more time with Putin than any other American official recently. The Kremlin shared a brief 27-second video of their meeting, but what caught my attention was the arrangement at the table. On one side sat President Putin, accompanied by his experienced foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, his envoy for foreign investment Kirill Dmitriev, and an interpreter. On the opposite side, Witkoff was clearly outnumbered, sitting with just a translator. This setup is not typical for diplomatic meetings, but Witkoff is not a conventional diplomat. He is a billionaire real estate developer from New York and a close associate of Trump, who himself is not a traditional president. Witkoff has built his career on making deals, and this is how high-level diplomacy between the US and Russia is being conducted in the Trump era. Important discussions that could have global implications are now being held in this manner. Following their talks, Ushakov held a conference call with reporters. I attempted to ask him about the main obstacles to peace in Ukraine, but he quickly ended the call without providing any answers. There are numerous sticking points in the peace proposals that have been leaked to the media, including disagreements over territorial concessions that Ukraine would need to make, security guarantees, sanctions relief for Russia, and the order in which these obligations should be fulfilled. On the same day that Witkoff arrived in Moscow, a tragic event occurred on the outskirts of the city when a car bomb killed a senior Russian general, Yaroslav Moskalik, who was the deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the Russian General Staff. The Kremlin accused Kyiv of orchestrating this assassination, which, if true, indicates that the conflict in Ukraine has become much more personal for Russia. There is no assurance that the discussions between Witkoff and Putin will lead to peace, and there are concerns in Kyiv and Europe about their exclusion from the negotiations. What is evident is that both Putin and Trump are determined to strengthen ties between their countries, regardless of the outcome of the Ukraine peace process. The focus for both Moscow and Washington is now on cooperation. I attended a ceremony in Moscow that symbolized this shift. It commemorated the moment 80 years ago when American and Soviet soldiers met on the Elbe River during the final days of World War Two. At that time, Russia and America were allies. A military band played as people gathered to lay flowers at a memorial for the Meeting on the Elbe. However, Putin's invasion of Ukraine has placed the US and Russia on opposing sides, but the current climate suggests that relations may be improving. The White House and the Kremlin are both making efforts to mend their relationship. Could they reach a peace agreement that Ukraine would find acceptable? Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, told me at the ceremony that they are merely trying to re-establish contact and find a way out of the crisis created by the previous American administration. Moscow positions itself as a peacekeeper, blaming Kyiv and the 'collective West' for the ongoing conflict. Yet, it was President Putin who ordered the invasion of Ukraine, seeking to bring it back under Russian influence. The situation has evolved significantly, including the stance of the White House. President Biden has pledged to support Ukraine 'for as long as we can. ' Recently, Trump shifted the blame onto Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that one cannot initiate a conflict against a much larger adversary and expect assistance.