Diplomat representing Trump set to meet in Moscow, ahead of deadline for halting Ukraine conflict
Steve Witkoff, Donald Trump's special envoy, is set to visit Moscow this week, aiming to engage Russian officials and potentially meet with President Vladimir Putin. The visit comes amidst a tense standoff between the US and Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The visit is a direct response to President Trump's ultimatum, which demands that Russia halt its military offensive in Ukraine by this Friday, August 8, 2025. If Russia fails to comply, the US may impose increased sanctions, including the threatened use of "secondary tariffs" against Russia's trading partners such as China and India.
Trump has expressed a willingness to sell Europe as much weapons as they want to pass to Ukraine, a shift in rhetoric that has raised hopes in Kyiv. However, Russian commentators and analysts are sceptical about any breakthroughs, suggesting that Putin may use the visit mainly to buy time rather than seriously negotiate peace.
Putin has stated his support for a lasting and stable peace with Ukraine, but also maintains Russia's maximalist war goals, including control over four Ukrainian regions and a commitment that Ukraine will never join NATO.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands has pledged €500 million ($579 million) to Ukraine's defense as part of a US initiative. This contribution includes missiles for Patriot surface-to-air interceptor units.
As the deadline approaches, sources in Kyiv expect Keith Kellogg, Mr Trump's Ukraine envoy, to visit the country towards the end of the week, possibly to coincide with Mr Witkoff's visit to Moscow.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an aide to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has suggested that if the sanctions do not bring about the end of the war, further sanctions and increased militarization of Ukraine could follow.
The outcome of Witkoff's visit remains uncertain, but it plays a crucial role in the US strategy to end the war in Ukraine. The visit aims to advance peace talks ahead of Trump's deadline for Russia, with potential sanctions looming if no substantial progress occurs.
The visit by Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, to Moscow serves as a key component of the US strategy to resolve the war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, as it aims to advance peace talks amidst the tense political standoff between the US and Russia. Coupled with this, Mykhailo Podolyak, an aide to Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has suggested that further escalation in politics through increased militarization and sanctions might ensue if peace negotiations fail to yield results.
