Trump is sending Witkoff to Russia next week to take practical steps to end the war in Ukraine
US President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will visit Russia next week, as a deadline he set for Moscow to take steps to end the war in Ukraine approaches and amid escalating tensions with the Kremlin.
Trump told reporters that the two nuclear submarines he ordered deployed following an online spat with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev were now in the region.
Trump didn’t specify whether the two submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor did he reveal their deployment location.
The nuclear threats come against the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump for Russia to take steps to cease fire in Ukraine or face unspecified new sanctions.
Trump added that Witkoff will visit Russia “I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday”.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Witkoff several times in Moscow before Trump’s efforts to mend relations with the Kremlin abruptly halted.
When reporters asked Trump what message Witkoff was carrying for Moscow and whether there was anything Russia could do to avoid sanctions, the US president replied, “Yes, reaching an agreement that would stop people from being killed”.
Trump has previously threatened that new sanctions could mean the imposition of “secondary tariffs” targeting Russia’s remaining trading partners, such as China and India.
Despite pressure from Washington, the Russian attack on Ukraine continues.
Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half-year invasion “haven’t changed”.
These demands include Ukraine giving up territory and ending its ambitions to join NATO.
The US president began his second term with optimistic expectations of ending the war in Ukraine, but he has recently grown increasingly frustrated with Putin due to his continued attacks on Ukrainian cities.
