LONDON – In a significant diplomatic move, President Donald Trump has announced that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is set to travel to Russia later this week.
Witkoff’s mission aims to secure a vital ceasefire agreement to halt the ongoing violence that has escalated since February 2022, when Moscow initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Trump disclosed Witkoff’s travel plans during a press conference on Sunday, stating that the envoy would depart for Moscow on either Wednesday or Thursday.
This diplomatic effort comes amid increasing frustrations within the White House, as the past six months of negotiation under Trump’s leadership have yielded little to no progress in achieving a peace deal or even a basic ceasefire in the conflict.
In an attempt to pressure the Kremlin, Trump recently issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning of impending sanctions and tariffs. This included potential secondary sanctions targeting major Russian energy customers such as China and India if Russia failed to agree to a ceasefire.
Last week, the president shortened this deadline to just 10 days due to continued Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. This 10-day period is set to conclude on Friday, raising tensions as negotiations unfold.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the possibility of Witkoff’s visit, expressing openness to continued dialogue.
“We are always happy to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow and welcome any contact,” Peskov stated, emphasizing the significance of U.S. mediation efforts in achieving a resolution.
Peskov added that these contacts are essential in the ongoing direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Russia remains committed to a political and diplomatic solution to the conflict, viewing continued dialogue as a pathway to peace.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has openly supported the U.S. push for an immediate ceasefire, following which negotiations for a comprehensive peace agreement can commence.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for stronger action from Western partners against Russia in a post on Telegram, asserting, “The world has enough power to stop this and protect people.”
Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s reliance on decisive actions from the U.S., Europe, and global allies to implement secondary sanctions targeting trade in Russian energy resources and Moscow’s banking sector.
Andriy Kovalenko, who leads the Counter-Disinformation Center of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, remarked that Witkoff’s anticipated trip represents a potentially critical moment for ending the war, warning that failure to reach an agreement could trigger significant sanctions.
Kovalenko stated in a Telegram post, “If the visit is not successful, there will be sanctions.”
In contrast, Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of the Ukrainian parliament’s foreign affairs committee, expressed skepticism regarding Trump’s willingness to impose sanctions on Russia’s largest energy customers, China and India, even if a ceasefire is again rejected.
Merezhko speculated that Trump might consider some form of tariffs, although he doubted they would deter China and India from purchasing Russian oil and gas.
“The key problem is how to deny Russia revenues for selling its oil and gas to China and India, who are the biggest buyers,” Merezhko explained.
He highlighted the delicate balance Trump faces—avoiding the appearance of weakness while not jeopardizing relations with crucial trade partners.
The relationship between the U.S. and Russia has deteriorated in the lead-up to the ceasefire deadline. Last week, Trump found himself in a public spat with Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president who now serves as deputy chairman of the Security Council.
Medvedev characterized Trump’s ultimatum as a threat, indicating that it could provoke conflict not only with Ukraine but also within the United States.
In response to Medvedev’s remarks, Trump ordered the repositioning of two nuclear submarines to strategic locations, citing the need for preparedness in light of
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