Camilla Jessen
Trump to send special envoy to Putin for fifth time ahead of Ukraine ultimatum expiration.
With the clock ticking toward an August 8 deadline for Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump announced Sunday that Special Representative Steve Witkoff will once again head to Moscow for high-stakes talks with Russian leaders.
Trump’s Last Warning
Speaking from the White House, Trump said Witkoff’s trip is set for August 6 or 7, just before the ultimatum expires.
“They would like to see him, they invited him to a meeting. So we’ll see what happens,” Trump said, emphasizing that the envoy’s mission is another urgent appeal to “stop the killing.”
Fifth Visit to Russia in 2025
Witkoff’s upcoming visit will mark his fifth trip to Russia this year, following previous rounds of talks in February, March, and twice in April.
Trump framed the upcoming visit as part of his administration’s broader success in preventing conflicts.
“We’ve stopped a lot of wars. This should have been the easiest war to stop, but it’s not,” he stated.
Sanctions Loom as Deadline Nears
Trump also issued a fresh warning to the Kremlin: if Russia does not comply with Washington’s demand to cease hostilities in Ukraine, new sanctions will follow.
However, he admitted that sanctions alone may not be enough.
“They are slick and they are pretty good at circumventing sanctions,” Trump said, suggesting that Russia has grown adept at dodging Western economic penalties since the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Targeting Trading Partners
Despite these challenges, the U.S. is prepared to move forward with punitive measures.
Trump confirmed that secondary sanctions targeting Russia’s trading partners, as well as increased tariffs, are ready to be enforced if Putin ignores the ultimatum.
Countdown to August 8
Initially, Trump had given Russia 50 days to halt military operations in Ukraine.
But last week, he shortened the deadline, bringing the expiration date to Friday, August 8.
According to the White House, the U.S. is prepared to escalate pressure on Russia’s economy through a comprehensive sanctions package if Moscow refuses to comply.
Kremlin’s Response
In response, the Kremlin has downplayed the threat, claiming that years of sanctions have made Russia’s economy resilient.
“We have developed immunity to economic restrictions,” a Kremlin spokesperson said.
Despite the public bravado, behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts continue.
