U.S. Envoy Heads to Moscow for Talks with Russian Leaders on Ukraine

Steve Witkoff, a U.S. special envoy, landed in Moscow on Wednesday to meet with Russian officials, according to a source close to the matter.

The trip comes as President Donald Trump presses Russia to show progress in ending its nearly three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine by Friday, August 8, or face tougher economic penalties.

The State Department, through spokesperson Tammy Bruce, confirmed Witkoff is in Moscow but kept quiet about who he’s meeting or whether Russian President Vladimir Putin will be at the table.

Witkoff has met Putin before, and Russian news outlets reported a plane believed to be carrying him left the U.S. recently.

• U.S. Envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow for Urgent Ukraine Talks with Russia
• Trump Sets August 8 Deadline as U.S. Pushes Russia on Ukraine War
• Witkoff Leads High-Stakes Moscow Visit Amid U.S. Threats of New Sanctions

Trump is clearly fed up with the conflict dragging on. He’s threatened to hit Russia’s trade partners, like China and India, with “secondary tariffs” that could ripple through global markets if Russia doesn’t act by the deadline. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the talks “important and productive,” saying Russia appreciates the U.S. trying to help resolve things. But Putin hasn’t budged on his demands, which include Ukraine giving up four regions Russia has claimed and abandoning its hope of joining NATO—terms Ukraine says are a non-starter.

Witkoff isn’t new to high-stakes diplomacy. He played a key role in getting American teacher Marc Fogel released from Russian detention, proving he can handle tough negotiations. Now, he’s leading Trump’s push to find a way out of the Ukraine crisis, though no one’s sure what a deal might look like. The White House hasn’t said what happens if Russia misses Friday’s deadline.

Also Read: Boris Johnson Slams China on Taiwan, Urges Stronger Western Alliances

Meanwhile, Trump’s decision to send two nuclear submarines to the region—after a heated online exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev—has raised eyebrows, though details on their mission are scarce. All eyes are on Moscow, as Witkoff’s talks could shape the future of U.S.-Russia ties and the war in Ukraine.