As tensions escalate over Russia’s continued offensive in Ukraine, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Moscow on Wednesday, just days before President Donald Trump’s deadline for imposing new sanctions.
Trump has warned that unless Russia halts its military campaign by Friday, August 8, fresh penalties will be enforced. Although the White House has not detailed the scope of those measures, Trump has previously hinted at imposing “secondary tariffs” that could affect Russia’s remaining trade partners—including China and India—a move that could ripple through global markets.
“We’ll See What Happens”: Trump Keeps Options Open
“We’re going to see what happens,” President Trump told reporters on Tuesday, indicating he would wait for the outcome of Witkoff’s Moscow meetings before deciding on further action.
It remains unclear whether the envoy will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the visit. However, U.S. officials have confirmed that the talks will involve senior members of the Russian leadership.
Russia Unmoved by Sanctions Threats
Despite mounting international pressure, Moscow has shown no sign of slowing its military operations in Ukraine. Three rounds of indirect peace talks in Istanbul have failed to yield any progress toward a ceasefire.
Russia has insisted that Ukraine must relinquish control over four territories it claims to have annexed and must cut ties with NATO—conditions Kyiv has flatly rejected. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a ceasefire and urged allies to support regime change in Moscow.
Nuclear Tensions Rise
The diplomatic visit comes amid renewed nuclear tensions. Trump recently disclosed that two U.S. nuclear submarines had been deployed “to the region” following an online dispute with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. He did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor their exact locations, which remain classified.
The Kremlin responded cautiously. “Everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday. He added that Russia remained committed to nuclear non-proliferation and considered the upcoming talks with Witkoff to be “important and helpful.”
Mixed Signals From Moscow and Washington
While Trump has publicly expressed frustration with Putin in recent weeks, saying on Monday that Russia could avoid sanctions by brokering “a deal where people stop getting killed,” he has yet to lay out a clear strategy for resolving the conflict.
Putin, for his part, said last Friday that he still seeks peace but reiterated his conditions remain unchanged—terms that Ukrainian officials have consistently called unacceptable.
With the Friday deadline fast approaching, Witkoff’s visit is seen as a critical opportunity for last-minute diplomacy before Washington moves to escalate economic pressure on Moscow and its allies.
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