Kremlin sees 'extremely low' odds for Trump envoys' Moscow visit

Russia has called expectations for the visit of Trump's negotiators "extremely low," according to Bloomberg, citing sources close to the Kremlin. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to arrive in Moscow on Saturday with a proposal to pause the war with Ukraine, though Russia expressed pessimism about any deal resulting from the visit. Kremlin-linked sources told Bloomberg that previous trips by Witkoff and Kushner brought no progress, and there is no reason to believe this time will differ. Russian leader Vladimir Putin is ready to halt the war only on his terms, with demands growing tougher as Russia believes it holds a military advantage. It remains unclear if US officials will offer new initiatives to break the deadlock in Europe's most serious conflict since World War II. Putin has shown no signs of yielding on his demand that Ukraine cede the rest of Donetsk Oblast in any potential deal, which Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the envoys' weekend visit to Kyiv, and Trump commented on the upcoming trips to Moscow and Kyiv.