Donald Trump confirmed Sunday his particular envoy Steve Witkoff will go to Russia within the coming week, forward of a deadline the US president has set for imposing contemporary sanctions on Moscow.
Talking to reporters, Trump additionally stated that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an internet row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev had been now “within the area.”
Trump has not stated whether or not he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He additionally didn’t elaborate on the precise deployment areas, that are stored secret by the US army.
The nuclear saber-rattling got here in opposition to the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump on the finish of subsequent week for Russia to take steps in direction of ending the Ukraine conflict or face unspecified new sanctions.
The Republican chief stated Witkoff would go to “I believe subsequent week, Wednesday or Thursday.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Witkoff a number of occasions in Moscow, earlier than Trump’s efforts to fix ties with the Kremlin got here to a grinding halt.
When reporters requested what Witkoff’s message could be to Moscow, and if there was something Russia might do to keep away from the sanctions, Trump replied: “Yeah, get a deal the place individuals cease getting killed.”
– ‘Secondary tariffs’ –
Trump has beforehand threatened that new measures might imply “secondary tariffs” focusing on Russia’s remaining commerce companions, corresponding to China and India. This might additional stifle Russia, however would threat important worldwide disruption.
Regardless of the stress from Washington, Russia has continued its onslaught in opposition to its pro-Western neighbor.
Putin, who has constantly rejected requires a ceasefire, stated Friday that he desires peace however that his calls for for ending his practically three-and-a-half-year invasion had been “unchanged.”
“We’d like a long-lasting and steady peace on stable foundations that may fulfill each Russia and Ukraine, and would make sure the safety of each international locations,” Putin informed reporters.
However he added that “the circumstances (from the Russian aspect) definitely stay the identical.”
Russia has ceaselessly referred to as on Ukraine to successfully cede management of 4 areas Moscow claims to have annexed, a requirement Kyiv has referred to as unacceptable.
Putin additionally desires Ukraine to drop its ambitions to hitch NATO.
Ukraine launched a drone assault Sunday which sparked a hearth at an oil depot in Sochi, the host metropolis of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Kyiv has stated it’ll intensify its air strikes in opposition to Russia in response to a rise in Russian assaults on its territory in current weeks, which have killed dozens of civilians.
Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated on Monday, its air defences intercepted 61 Ukrainian drones in a single day.
One particular person was killed by Russian shelling within the southern Kherson area, Ukraine’s army administration stated in Telegram put up early Monday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky additionally stated Sunday that the 2 sides had been getting ready a prisoner alternate that may see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return house, following talks with Russia in Istanbul in July.
Trump started his second time period along with his personal rosy predictions that the conflict in Ukraine — raging since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022 — would quickly finish.
In current weeks, Trump has more and more voiced frustration with Putin over Moscow’s unrelenting offensive.