Trump is set to dispatch Witkoff to Moscow within the forthcoming week.
In a dramatic turn of events, US President Donald Trump has dispatched two nuclear submarines in response to escalating tensions with Russia over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This move comes just days before the expiration of a 10-day deadline set by Trump for Russia to cease fire with Ukraine.
The aim behind sending Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow mid-week is to pressure Russia into peace talks. Witkoff's visit is expected to occur between Wednesday and Thursday, and it follows a three-hour meeting in Moscow between Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, the specific details about the dispatched submarines, such as their type and destination, remain unknown. The positions of US nuclear submarines are kept secret, and it is unclear whether the dispatched submarines are nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed. Retired Colonel Thiele views this deployment as a "March into Escalation Rhetoric".
Trump's recent actions regarding Russia are a departure from his initial attempts to improve relations with Putin. He had previously set a 50-day ultimatum for Putin which he later shortened to 10 days, linking the threat of sanctions and tariffs on Russia’s energy export customers, including China and India, to a ceasefire agreement.
The Kremlin has remained unimpressed by US threats so far. Meanwhile, the US maintains that sanctions against Russia's trading partners will proceed despite diplomatic efforts, reflecting a cautious stance. Reports suggest that Russia might propose a temporary halt to air strikes as a compromise, an idea also discussed by Belarusian President Lukashenko with Putin.
On the Ukrainian side, public opinion has shifted markedly toward favoring negotiations to end the war, reflecting war fatigue and skepticism about long-term Western support. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy has signaled willingness to engage directly with Putin in renewed talks, indicating openness to diplomacy amid ongoing hostilities.
Despite this, violence has continued with intense Russian air attacks, including deadly strikes on Kyiv recently condemned by Trump. If the ceasefire is not achieved, Trump plans to impose sanctions on Russia's trading partners.
In summary, the US-Russia diplomatic efforts are at a critical but uncertain juncture. Witkoff's Moscow visit under Trump's sanction deadline yielded some positive signals but no confirmed breakthroughs, with continued sanctions planned and on-the-ground fighting persisting. Both sides show some openness to a pause in hostilities, but trust and concrete outcomes remain fragile.
The Community policy and employment policy of the United States have seemingly taken a backseat in the face of ongoing political tensions, as President Trump's actions in relation to Russia dominate the general-news agenda. The escalating crisis in Ukraine, marked by the dispatch of nuclear submarines and diplomatic visits to Moscow, has put politics at the forefront, with no clear resolution in sight.
