United States President, Donald Trump, has announced that his foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff, will be heading to Russia in the coming days, as the administration renews its push to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking during an event at the White House on Thursday afternoon, Trump disclosed Witkoff’s travel plans, which had not been made public prior, while also vowing to impose new sanctions on Moscow.
He condemned Russia’s continued military offensive in Ukraine, calling the attacks on Kyiv “disgusting.”
“He’s going to Russia, believe it or not,” Trump said when asked about Witkoff’s current diplomatic visit to the Middle East, where he is holding meetings on the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Although the White House did not release additional information on Witkoff’s upcoming itinerary, the trip marks a renewed diplomatic effort after his previous visit to Moscow in April.
That visit included a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin but ended without a major breakthrough toward peace.
Since that time, Trump has grown increasingly critical of Putin, expressing open frustration over the lack of progress and Russia’s escalating missile and drone strikes on Ukrainian territory.
“I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing. I think it’s disgusting,” Trump stated emphatically in response to questions about Moscow’s latest assault on Kyiv.
Trump also reiterated his intention to impose fresh sanctions on Russia, penalties he has previously warned would come if a peace deal wasn’t reached by next week.
However, he tempered expectations about their potential impact.
“Yeah, we’re going to put sanctions,” Trump said. “I don’t know that sanctions bother him. You know, they know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions and tariffs and everything else. I don’t know if that has any effect, but we’re going to do it.”
