Trump Envoy Meets Putin in Kremlin Amid Russian General’s Assassination Near Moscow

Donald Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin just hours after a top Russian general was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. The high-level meeting is being seen as a significant moment in ongoing Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations.

Trump Pushes for Peace Deal as Envoy Holds 4th Russia Visit

Witkoff’s visit marks his fourth trip to Russia in recent months, underlining former President Trump’s increasing involvement in brokering a potential peace deal in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Trump expressed optimism:

“The next few days are going to be very important. Meetings are taking place right now,” said Trump. “I think we’re going to make a deal … I think we’re getting very close.”

Despite high expectations, no breakthrough was announced following Friday’s talks.

Kremlin: Talks Were “Constructive”, Peace Negotiations Back on Table

According to Yuri Ushakov, a senior Putin aide who attended the meeting, discussions with Witkoff were “constructive and quite useful.” Ushakov added that both sides had “narrowed their differences” and that the possibility of resuming direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine was discussed.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Witkoff left Moscow with a message for Donald Trump. However, Witkoff himself has not issued a public statement about the meeting’s outcome.

Russian General Killed in Car Bombing Before Meeting

The peace talks were overshadowed by the assassination of a senior Russian military officer in a car explosion in Balashikha, a town in the Moscow region. The Russian Investigative Committee confirmed the cause was a remote-detonated improvised explosive device (IED) packed with shrapnel.

Russian Telegram channel Baza, known for its law enforcement sources, reported that the bomb was hidden in a parked vehicle and detonated as the general walked past. Viral footage shared on Russian social media platforms shows the moment of the explosion, followed by images of a charred, destroyed vehicle.

Kremlin Blames Ukraine for “Terrorist Act”

The Kremlin accused Ukraine of orchestrating the assassination, with Peskov stating Kyiv was continuing its “terrorist activities on Russian territory“. Ukraine has not commented on the incident.

The slain general, Moskalik, 59, was reportedly part of several key Russian diplomatic delegations, including meetings with Ukrainian and Western officials in 2015 and 2019, and a notable 2018 visit to Syria’s Assad regime. Sources within Russia’s defense ministry indicated that Moskalik was being considered for a top military leadership role due to his methodical and strategic approach.

Pattern of High-Profile Killings Linked to Ukraine

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, several Russian military officials and pro-Kremlin figures have been targeted:

• In December, Ukrainian forces were linked to the killing of Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, who died after an explosive-laden electric scooter detonated in Moscow.
• In 2022, Darya Dugina, daughter of nationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin, died in a car bombing near Moscow.
• Keith Kellogg, Trump’s former national security adviser and current representative on Ukraine-Russia matters, previously criticized such killings, suggesting they may violate international war protocols.

Escalating Risks and Peace Efforts Moving in Parallel

Despite the rising tensions and assassinations, Trump’s diplomatic channel continues to seek a solution. With Steve Witkoff at the forefront of unofficial U.S. peace efforts, and Putin expressing openness to talks, there is cautious optimism that direct Ukraine-Russia negotiations could resume.