Détente without Ukraine?

The latest Putin-Witkoff meeting confirms that Russian-US normalization could occur without peace in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has met again with Steve Witkoff, special envoy of US President Donald Trump. From the little the cameras showed us of the meeting it appears that the atmosphere was unusually friendly. The discussion was also long, lasting for about three hours.

Yet, at this point, we know little about its content or, more importantly, what progress has been made or not. We do know, from Russia’s Yuri Ushakov, special aide to Putin, that the meeting has been, in Ushakov’s words, “constructive” and “useful.” In particular, it has produced closer proximity between Russian and US positions not only on Ukraine but also on other issues that have – mostly – not been further specified. With the important exception of the possibility of facilitating direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.