Ukraine war: Trump says Witkoff to visit Russia, expects to impose sanctions
The US president has given Moscow until August 8 to end the conflict, but says he doubts this will change Putin’s behaviour
US President Donald Trump said special envoy Steve Witkoff would be headed to Russia after wrapping up a visit to Israel ahead of a new deadline for Moscow to halt its fight with Ukraine.
“Yeah, going to Israel and then he’s going to Russia, believe it or not,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
Trump also said he expected to impose sanctions once a new deadline he set earlier this week expires, but did not foresee that it would alter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behaviour.
“We have about eight days, so yeah, we’re going to put sanctions. I don’t know that sanctions bother him,” he said.
Trump on Tuesday said he was setting a new 10-day deadline – which falls on August 8 – for Russia to reach a truce with Ukraine. The US president has repeatedly threatened new economic penalties on Russia only to hold off in the past, saying he wanted to preserve the chance for talks to end the war, now in its fourth year.
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Trump threatens Russia with 100% ‘secondary’ tariffs if no deal on Ukraine ceasefire
Trump on July 14 originally issued a 50-day deadline for Russia, before shortening it this week. Trump has said he would impose 100 per cent tariffs if Russia did not comply with his calls for a truce.