US envoy Witkoff flatters Putin in St Petersburg as Ukraine peace push draws criticism

US envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in St Petersburg, reportedly using flattery and echoing Trump's claim that Moscow 'has been fine on Ukraine,' as the White House pursues a strategy of maximum pressure on Kyiv. The article alleges a pattern of mendacity in US peace efforts, though specifics of any new concessions remain unclear. This signals a potential shift in US posture toward Russia that could affect alliance cohesion and market sentiment.