Desk Report,
Trump’s special envoy heads to Russia amid tensions
US special envoy Steve Witkoff may visit Russia next week. US President Donald Trump himself announced this on Sunday. The announcement came amid rising tensions between Washington and Moscow.
Trump’s special envoy heads to Russia amid tensions
Trump has given Russia until August 8 to agree to a deal to end the war in Ukraine or face economic sanctions. Although Trump did not specify what those sanctions might be, tensions between Washington and Moscow are rising over this.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said that the two nuclear submarines he deployed after an online spat with former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the National Security Council Dmitry Medvedev are still “in that area.” There are signs of increasing nuclear tensions between the US and Russia after the threat of economic sanctions and the announcement of the submarine deployment. Meanwhile, Trump said on Sunday, “I think Witkoff will be visiting Russia on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.” Trump did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed. He also did not provide details about the submarines’ exact locations. The U.S. military typically keeps the exact locations of its submarines secret.
Trump’s threat to impose economic sanctions and the announcement of the submarine deployment have been signs of rising nuclear tensions between the United States and Russia. Meanwhile, Trump said on Sunday, “I think Witkoff will be visiting Russia on Wednesday or Thursday of next week.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met with Witkoff in Moscow several times, but those meetings took place before Trump’s efforts to improve relations with the Kremlin stalled.
Reporters asked Trump on Sunday what message Witkoff was taking to Moscow and whether Russia could do anything to circumvent the sanctions.
In response, Trump said, “Yes, let’s have a deal that stops killing people.”
