• President Trump will send special envoy Steve Witkoff to Moscow this week ahead of his Friday deadline for progress on ending the war in Ukraine.
• Witkoff’s visit signals a tougher U.S. stance after months of frustration with Russia’s aggression and stalled peace talks.
• Kyiv warns that secondary sanctions and military aid will increase if Russia fails to change course in the ongoing conflict.

MOSCOW (TDR) — President Donald Trump declared he will dispatch his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow on Wednesday or Thursday to secure progress before the August 8 Ukraine deadline aimed at ending the war. Asked about the message Witkoff would deliver to Russian President Vladimir Putin and what Moscow could do to avoid new sanctions, Trump said bluntly, “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.” This mission marks a sharp shift in U.S. policy following months of stalled diplomacy and Russia’s unrelenting military aggression.

Trump’s Escalating Pressure on Russia

Originally optimistic about negotiating with Putin, Trump’s tone has hardened amid Russia’s ongoing attacks on civilian areas. Last Thursday, Trump called these assaults “disgusting” and revealed the deployment of two nuclear submarines in the region after threats from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev.

Trump had initially set a 50-day window in July for Russia and Ukraine to end hostilities but recently shortened the deadline to “10 or 12” days, now fixed at August 8. Should Moscow fail to comply, Trump warned of imposing secondary tariffs targeting Russia’s key trade partners, including China and India.

Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressed the urgency. “If Russia does not change course by Friday, Kyiv expects the irreversible logistics of secondary sanctions on Russian oil exports to be set in motion,” Podolyak said. He added that the next steps could include further sanctions and expanded militarization of Ukraine.

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“Trump has already said he’s ready to sell Europe as much weapons as they want [to pass to Ukraine]. Before he didn’t say that … This is already a different conception of the world,” Podolyak explained.

Witkoff’s Moscow Mission: Hope and Doubt

Witkoff, who shares a personal rapport with Putin, has met privately with the Russian leader multiple times. He once received an oil painting of Trump from Putin and has previously relied on Kremlin translators. Such close ties have fueled skepticism among Kyiv and U.S. allies about Witkoff’s ability to deliver firm diplomatic demands.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow is “always happy to see Mr Witkoff in Moscow,” with a meeting with Putin likely. Putin declared support for “a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations” that satisfies both Russia and Ukraine and ensures mutual security.

However, Moscow’s maximalist demands persist: control over four Ukrainian regions claimed by Moscow and a permanent ban on Ukraine joining NATO.

Stalled Peace Talks and Fragile Prospects

Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine in Turkey have achieved little. The third round in Istanbul ended abruptly last month, with prisoner exchanges the only substantial outcome. Zelenskyy said a recent exchange will return 1,200 Ukrainian troops home.

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Zelenskyy wants to meet Putin directly, with Trump or Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan mediating, but Putin insists on a ceasefire framework first. The Kremlin’s delegation led by former culture minister Vladimir Medinsky raised doubts about Russia’s seriousness.

“Those countries who thought Russia was ready for talks, and that the war could end at any moment if Ukraine would only agree to negotiations, they can now see that Russia is not ready for any real talks,” Podolyak said.

Intensifying Conflict and Civilian Toll

Violence persists with near-nightly drone and missile attacks. Last week marked one of the deadliest periods, including strikes on Kyiv killing 31 civilians, five children among them. Both sides continue targeting infrastructure using drones. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted 61 Ukrainian drones overnight Monday.

As the August 8 deadline approaches, global attention focuses on Witkoff’s mission. The key question remains whether his visit will break the diplomatic deadlock or if the conflict will escalate further.

Will Witkoff’s envoy mission break the deadlock, or is deeper conflict ahead?

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