US President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, will travel to Russia next week to advance negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, reiterating his desire for a peace deal that “stops people from getting killed.”
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said Witkoff’s visit is expected on “Wednesday or Thursday” of the coming week. The envoy—who is also a longtime Trump associate and real estate magnate—has held multiple meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in recent months.
Trump signals tougher line on Russia
The goal, Trump reiterated, is to push for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, saying bluntly, “Get a deal where people stop getting killed.”
The president added that failure to progress toward peace could result in “very severe tariffs” on Russia, ramping up pressure amid a deadly uptick in drone attacks and battlefield activity.
Submarines deployed as tensions mount
Trump also disclosed that two U.S. nuclear submarines had been deployed “in the region” following a heated online exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. However, the president did not clarify whether the vessels were nuclear-armed or nuclear-powered, nor did he specify their exact locations, which the Pentagon traditionally keeps classified.
This show of force coincides with a record-breaking 6,297 Russian drone attacks on Ukraine last month—a 14-fold increase from July 2024—further escalating regional tensions.
Ukraine seeks defensive support, prisoner swap announced
In response to Russia’s aggression, Ukraine is expecting delivery of the U.S.-made Patriot surface-to-air missile system, a move Trump has endorsed. However, the president made clear that the cost of the system will be covered by European allies, not the United States.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has intensified its own strikes on Russian targets. On Sunday, Ukrainian attacks reportedly killed three people and sparked a massive fire at an oil refinery in Russia.
Despite the ongoing violence, diplomatic channels remain active. Multiple meetings between Russian and Ukrainian officials have taken place in Istanbul, Turkiye, with the latest round yielding an agreement to exchange 1,200 prisoners, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The Kremlin has not yet commented on the prisoner swap.
Witkoff's expanding role in US foreign policy
Steve Witkoff, widely known for his real estate background and ties to Trump through golf and business, has emerged as an unconventional but key figure in White House diplomacy. As a special envoy, he has already met Putin several times and is now tasked with brokering one of the most consequential geopolitical deals of the decade.
His upcoming trip will be closely watched, especially amid Trump’s sharpened rhetoric and military maneuvering.
What’s next?
All eyes are on next week’s meeting in Moscow. With drone attacks at an all-time high, peace talks may determine whether diplomacy prevails—or if harsher economic penalties and military escalations lie ahead.
