Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff Heads to Moscow This Week, Hopes for Ceasefire Deal
President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Russia later this week—either Wednesday or Thursday—in a fresh push to nail down a ceasefire deal to halt the ongoing violence in Ukraine.
Trump told reporters that the goal is clear: to reach an agreement "where people stop getting killed." This mission comes amid mounting frustration at the White House after more than six months of diplomatic efforts under Trump’s watch have failed to bring either a peace agreement or even a temporary ceasefire to the brutal conflict that erupted when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine back in February 2022.
The Countdown Tightens: Ultimatums and Deadlines
Just last month, Trump put Russian President Vladimir Putin on notice with a hard 50-day ultimatum. The message was clear: agree to a ceasefire or face sweeping sanctions and tariffs. Notably, Trump threatened “secondary sanctions” targeting Russia’s biggest energy customers—including China and India—aiming to choke off the Kremlin’s critical revenue streams.
But with Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine continuing unabated, Trump grew impatient. Last week, he shrunk that timeline dramatically, cutting the window down to just 10 days. That deadline is fast approaching, set to expire this Friday. The pressure is on.
Moscow Responds — For Now
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded cautiously on Monday, telling reporters that Russia “will not rule out the possibility” of Witkoff’s visit. He added, “We are always happy to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow and are always happy to have contact.”
Peskov emphasized the importance of ongoing dialogue, calling U.S. mediation efforts “meaningful and very useful,” and reaffirmed Moscow’s preferred solution remains political and diplomatic. Interestingly, Russia’s state news agency Tass reported that Peskov also mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy — a face-to-face summit Kyiv has long pushed for but Moscow has consistently declined — but only after "preparatory work" at the expert level wraps up.
Ukraine’s Stance: No Ceasefire, No Talks
For Kyiv, the message is straightforward: an immediate ceasefire must come first. Ukraine’s leadership insists negotiations for a broader peace deal can only proceed once the guns fall silent.
President Zelenskyy made a strong appeal on Telegram Monday, urging the West to step up sanctions and clamp down hard on Moscow. “The world has enough power to stop this and protect people,” Zelenskyy wrote. “We rely on strong decisions from the U.S., Europe, and the world regarding secondary sanctions on trade in Russian energy resources and on Moscow’s banking sector.”
The Stakes Are High: Sanctions or More War?
Inside Ukraine, opinions vary on whether Trump will follow through with his tough talk on sanctions — especially those targeting Russia’s biggest fossil fuel customers.
Andriy Kovalenko, who heads the Counter-Disinformation Center linked to Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, hinted at the high stakes in a Telegram post, calling Witkoff’s expected visit “Russia’s last chance to stop the war.” He warned bluntly, “If the visit is not successful, there will be sanctions.”
On the flip side, Oleksandr Merezhko, a Ukrainian lawmaker close to Zelenskyy and chair of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee, expressed skepticism in an interview with ABC News. He doesn’t expect Trump to slap sanctions on China and India, two of Russia’s biggest energy buyers, even if Putin again refuses a ceasefire.
“My guess is that Trump might impose some kind of tariffs, which won’t stop China and India from buying Russian oil and gas,” Merezhko said. “The key problem is how to deny Russia revenues for selling its oil and gas to China and India, who are the biggest buyers. On the one hand, Trump doesn’t want to look weak, yet on the other hand, he doesn’t want to spoil relations with China and India by imposing serious sanctions.”
U.S.-Russia Relations Hit a Tense Low
Tensions between Washington and Moscow heated up last week as the ceasefire deadline loomed. Trump publicly clashed with Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and prime minister, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
Medvedev fired back at Trump’s ultimatum, calling it “a threat and a step towards war—not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.” His hawkish rhetoric stoked fears of escalation.
In response, Trump ordered two U.S. nuclear submarines to move into “appropriate regions,” citing “highly provocative statements” from Medvedev, who has gained a reputation as one of the most hardline voices in Putin’s inner circle.
Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture
Let’s break down why all this is so crucial and what to watch for in the coming days:
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Witkoff’s Visit: Seen as a pivotal moment in the U.S.’s diplomatic efforts, Witkoff’s Moscow trip is being closely watched as a potential last-ditch attempt to secure a ceasefire before the looming sanctions deadline hits.
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Secondary Sanctions Threat: Targeting countries like China and India, which import massive amounts of Russian energy, is an unprecedented move. It aims to cut off Moscow’s lifeline but risks disrupting global energy markets and diplomatic relations.
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Ukraine’s Demand for Immediate Ceasefire: Without peace on the ground, any negotiation risks being a hollow exercise. Kyiv’s insistence means that the next steps depend heavily on Russia’s willingness to halt hostilities.
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Risk of Escalation: The public spat between Trump and Medvedev highlights how fragile the situation is. Moves like deploying nuclear submarines signal how quickly tensions could spiral.
What Happens Next?
The countdown is on as Witkoff’s trip draws near and Friday’s deadline approaches. If Russia agrees to a ceasefire, it could pave the way for serious negotiations toward peace. But if not, the U.S. is likely to follow through on its threats, which may include sanctions that could reshape global energy trade.
As President Zelenskyy calls on the world to take stronger action, the eyes of the international community remain fixed on this high-stakes diplomatic showdown. Will Witkoff’s visit be the breakthrough that ends months of bloodshed, or just another chapter in a conflict with no clear end in sight?
Quick Summary / Key Points:
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Steve Witkoff’s Moscow visit expected Wed/Thu to seek ceasefire.
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Trump’s 10-day ultimatum to Russia on ceasefire expires Friday.
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Russia open to talks but conditions remain unclear; possible Putin-Zelenskyy summit after expert prep.
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Ukraine demands ceasefire before any peace negotiations.
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Zelenskyy calls for stronger secondary sanctions on Russia’s energy buyers.
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Mixed views on whether sanctions will hit China and India.
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Trump and Medvedev publicly spar over threats and military posturing.
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