U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff held "useful and constructive" talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, a Kremlin aide said, two days before a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Russia to agree to peace in Ukraine or face new sanctions.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in a last-ditch effort to convince him to make peace in Ukraine or face punishing new economic penalties by Friday.

New sanctions against Russia will still kick in on Friday, the White House said, even as President Donald Trump praised a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “highly productive” on Wednesday.