Moscow calls US talks 'useful' as Trump's ceasefire deadlines looms

Moscow [Russia], August 7: With just days remaining before US President Donald Trump's deadline for a Ukraine ceasefire, his special envoy Steve Witkoff held another round of talks in Moscow on Wednesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Witkoff for about three hours at the Kremlin. Putin's foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, described the visit as "useful and constructive," according to Russian state news agency TASS.
Ushakov said Moscow had received "signals" from Witkoff about Washington's position on Ukraine and, in turn, sent messages back to Trump via the envoy.
Neither side disclosed details of the discussions.
Following years of limited contact between Washington and Moscow due to the war launched by Putin against Ukraine, Witkoff has now visited Russia five times this year.
In July, Trump gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to end the war. Angered by continued attacks on Ukrainian civilians, Trump later shortened the timeline to this Friday.
Trump has threatened a harsh wave of sanctions if Moscow fails to comply, including "secondary tariffs" against countries that buy Russian energy, to choke off the Kremlin's war funding.
It was in this context that Trump announced on Wednesday he was ratcheting up tariffs on India to 50% over its purchases of Russian oil. The rate is set to go into effect in 21 days.
But is unclear how far Trump - who has often boasted of his strong personal rapport with Putin - is prepared to escalate should his Friday ultimatum be ignored.
Russia hits
Ukrainian gas hub
Meanwhile, Russian forces have escalated their attacks on Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas across the south of the country on Wednesday.
Ukrainian authorities reported a deliberate Russian drone strike on a key gas compressor station in the Odessa region, part of the Trans-Balkan pipeline route.
Energy Minister Svitlana Grynchuk condemned the attack, saying: "Moscow is using all available means and leverage to destroy Europe's energy independence."
This pipeline, crucial for transporting liquefied natural gas from the US and Azerbaijan through Greece, Bulgaria and Romania to Ukraine, has become a strategic lifeline as Kiev braces amid Russia's destruction of domestic energy capacity.
In the village of Orlivka, near the border with Romania, drone strikes ignited a large fire visible from the neighbouring country, according to local media.
The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed attacks on Ukraine's gas transport system but did not specify locations.
Additional strikes damaged commercial facilities and residential buildings in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and Russian drones targeted areas along the southern Danube, according to Ukrainian officials.
At least two people were killed and a dozen injured after Russian bombings struck a holiday camp near Zaporizhzhya, damaging several cabins, local officials said. Overnight, Ukraine launched a retaliatory drone attack on a fuel depot in Bryansk, Russia.
Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion since February 2022. With domestic production crippled, the country relies heavily on gas imports.
Source: Qatar Tribune