Trump confirms US envoy Witkoff visit to Russia amid rising tensions
04-08-2025 12:38
Donald Trump confirmed his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia in the coming week, ahead of a deadline the US president has set for imposing fresh sanctions on Moscow, writes Frabce24.
Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now “in the region”. He has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. President also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.
The nuclear saber-rattling came against the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump at the end of next week for Russia to take steps towards ending the Ukraine war or face unspecified new sanctions.
The Republican leader said Witkoff would visit “I think Wednesday or Thursday” [August 6 – 7]. When reporters asked what Witkoff"s message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed”.