Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump’s Special Representative for the Middle East, to discuss efforts to end the Ukraine conflict. The meeting took place two days before Trump’s August 8 deadline for Russia to reach an agreement with Ukraine. Witkoff, on his fifth visit to Russia this year, also met with Russian officials including Kirill Dmitriev. Trump has threatened to impose heavy tariffs and additional measures on Russia if no peace deal is reached by the deadline.