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🇸🇪 Sweden /Conflict & Security

Michael Winiarski: Trump’s envoy has not shifted Putin

From Dagens Nyheter · () Swedish

Translated from Swedish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Analysis Named sources Ongoing story
  • Michael Winiarski argues that talks between Trump’s envoys, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have produced no visible path to ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
  • The analysis says the United States has avoided pressuring Russia, while Putin has maintained demands concerning Ukraine’s sovereignty, territory and NATO ambitions.
  • Steve Witkoff said progress had been made in Moscow but did not specify what it involved, while Russian attacks on Ukraine continued.

Donald Trump’s envoys have met Vladimir Putin in Moscow and Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv, but Michael Winiarski sees no end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. In his assessment, the United States has continued to avoid putting pressure on Moscow, and Putin has not retreated on any point.

forgotten

· Michael WiniarskiHe describes how the peace-brokering mission was treated after the United States launched its war against Iran.

The expectations were low when Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner resumed their so far unsuccessful efforts to broker peace. The mission had been “forgotten” and put on hold after the United States launched its war against Iran at the end of February. Winiarski says the envoys’ first visit to war-torn Ukraine could perhaps be viewed as a positive gesture, since they were shown the consequences of Russia’s bombing campaign.

But he highlights the contrast with their close contact with Russia’s leadership. Since Trump returned to the White House at the beginning of 2025, Witkoff has travelled to Russia to meet Putin eight times. Winiarski presents that record as evidence of Trump’s priorities, including his repeated hopes for normalised relations with Russia and profitable Russian-American business deals.

full confidence

· Vladimir PutinPutin used these words to praise Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

The warm atmosphere in Moscow was unmistakable. Putin praised Witkoff and Kushner and said they had his “full confidence.” Witkoff also spoke warmly of the Russian president, saying that “all these incredible memories” of their meetings would be at the top of his list when he retired.

all these incredible memories

· Steve WitkoffWitkoff spoke warmly about his meetings with Putin.

On the war itself, Winiarski says Putin remains committed to addressing what Russia calls the “root causes of the conflict.” He interprets that as a demand to restrict Ukraine’s sovereignty, force it to give up the parts of Donbas Russia has not occupied and abandon its ambitions to join NATO. Putin also says the government in Kyiv is illegitimate because it is “Nazi in its true nature.” Despite the talks, Russian bombing attacks on Ukraine have continued. Putin maintains that Russia will achieve the goals of its “special military operation” on the battlefield and capture all of Donbas by the end of the year. Witkoff said the Moscow meeting had produced progress, but did not explain what that progress was.

root causes of the conflict

· Vladimir PutinPutin’s stated position on what must be addressed to resolve the war.
About this summary

Originally published by Dagens Nyheter in Swedish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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