(NewsNation) — Special envoy Steve Witkoff was in Moscow on Wednesday to hold talks with President Vladimir Putin, as time runs out on President Donald Trump's deadline to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.

If Russia fails to reach a ceasefire by Friday, the White House has threatened “severe tariffs” and other economic penalties targeting countries buying Russian oil.

The White House did not immediately provide details of the meeting, but it marked Wiktoff's fifth visit to Moscow this year — and was perhaps the most critical.

Russia strikes Ukraine power grid, gas facilities

Growing increasingly frustrated with Putin, Trump has urged Russia for months to scale back strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine. Despite those calls, Russian attacks have intensified.

Overnight Wednesday, Russian

See Full Page