Trump says U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia later this week, ahead of ceasefire deadline he imposed

U.S. President Donald Trump said his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia ahead of the expiration of the 10-day deadline he gave Moscow to implement a ceasefire in Ukraine, AFP reports.

Speaking to reporters on August 3, Trump said Witkoff would arrive in Russia on August 6 or 7.

When asked what message Witkoff would deliver to Moscow and whether Russia could do anything to avoid sanctions, Trump responded, “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.”

Trump also told reporters that two nuclear-powered submarines, which he deployed following an online dispute with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, are now “in the region.”

At the end of July, Trump gave Moscow a 10-day deadline — until August 8 — to halt military operations in Ukraine. If Russia fails to comply, Trump warned that the U.S. would impose sanctions and take other measures against the country.