The Kremlin has said it does not consider the United States envoy for the Middle East, who arrived in Moscow on Thursday, to be a mediator for the war in Ukraine. Steve Witkoff landed in the Russian capital after flying in from Qatar, where he had been involved in indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.

Trump hails ‘very good calls’ with Moscow on ceasefire but still ‘a long way to go’ - Ukraine’s President Zelensky urges US and allies to pressure Kremlin into truce soon