Putin Updates China, India, and Regional Allies on Witkoff Talks

President Vladimir Putin held a series of phone calls on Friday with the leaders of China, India, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to discuss the details of his meeting earlier this week with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.

China’s Xi Jinping told Putin that Beijing welcomed continued U.S.-Russia dialogue on Ukraine and would “always… support making peace and promoting talks,” though he cautioned that “complex issues have no simple solutions,” according to Chinese state media, The Caspian Post reports citing foreign media.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X that he had a “very good and detailed conversation” with his “friend” Putin on “the latest developments on Ukraine,” adding they reviewed progress on bilateral ties and reaffirmed their “Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.” Modi confirmed earlier reports that Putin will visit India later this year.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also discussed U.S. peace proposals with the Russian leader and plans for a potential Trump-Putin summit, which Moscow says could happen “in the coming days.” U.S. officials have not yet confirmed those plans.

Trump, who has given Russia until Friday to end the war or face new sanctions and “secondary tariffs” on its key trading partners, earlier said that “great progress was made” during Witkoff’s meeting in Moscow. However, when asked on Thursday whether his deadline for Putin to agree to a ceasefire was still in place, Trump said, “It’s gonna be up to him, we’re gonna see what he has to say.”

“Very disappointed,” the U.S. president said of Putin, leaving an air of uncertainty about whether he would follow through with his increasingly tougher line on Russia as he presses for a quick end to the war in Ukraine.