Putin Sits With Kushner And Witkoff In Moscow As Gulf Tensions Threaten To Overshadow Talks
By Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed Russian President Vladimir Putin met United States envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff in Moscow, a high profile engagement that came as Russia announced a 72 hour pause on strikes against Kyiv to allow room for peace talks, raising cautious optimism about a possible ceasefire in the Ukraine war. In the Gulf, however, tensions escalated sharply after the United States military destroyed three Iranian oil tankers following missile attacks on its warships, with Tehran vowing retaliation in response to the strikes. The twin developments have placed global diplomacy under strain, with attention split between the fragile progress in Moscow and the rapidly deteriorating standoff between Washington and Tehran. In Nepal, the flood death toll has risen to 1,344, with thousands still missing more than a week after the disaster struck, even as rescuers managed to pull survivors alive ten days later in a rare moment of hope amid the devastation. Separately, Israel confirmed plans to partially withdraw from southern Lebanon, narrowing its so called security zone after weeks of clashes, a move that could signal a modest de escalation in that theatre even as other global flashpoints intensify. Diplomats say the coming days will be critical in determining whether the Moscow talks can produce concrete results before the Gulf crisis draws greater international attention.
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