The Kremlin holds “extremely low” expectations that Donald Trump’s negotiators will achieve a breakthrough in Russia, Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with Moscow’s thinking. Previous trips by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner produced no progress, and President Vladimir Putin is willing to halt the war only on Moscow’s terms.
The Kremlin holds “extremely low” expectations that negotiators representing Donald Trump will secure a breakthrough during their upcoming visit to Russia, sources familiar with the Kremlin’s thinking told Bloomberg.
Sources said earlier trips to Russia by Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and former senior adviser Jared Kushner produced no progress and failed to establish a credible negotiating channel. Because the same intermediaries are again involved, Moscow has no basis to believe they will bring proposals acceptable to Russian leaders.
President Vladimir Putin remains prepared to stop the war only on Russia’s own terms, the sources added. As Russian officials grow more confident that they hold a military advantage, Moscow’s demands are becoming increasingly hard-line.
The skepticism over the Witkoff-Kushner track follows other recent U.S. engagement with Moscow, including a reported visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe intended to push the Kremlin toward talks.
The Bloomberg assessment underscores the wide gap between Washington and Moscow as Trump-linked envoys pursue talks on ending the conflict, while the Kremlin maintains a position it has shown no willingness to soften.
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