With just two days before the expiration of U.S. President Donald Trump’s ceasefire deadline, his special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday, August 6th, for last-ditch talks aimed at brokering a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Witkoff’s visit marks a critical moment in Trump’s push for a negotiated settlement between Russia and Ukraine.
Though the outcome of the mission remains uncertain, it proves that Trump is at least engaging directly with the Kremlin—unlike former President Joe Biden, whose administration was more obsessed with arming Ukraine for as long as it takes.
The peace push follows Trump’s July ultimatum that gave Russian President Vladimir Putin until August 8th to agree to a ceasefire and launch formal peace negotiations.
Trump has warned of massive economic consequences for Moscow and for countries that continue to support its war effort—including threats of 100% tariffs on Chinese and Indian buyers of Russian oil.
“If energy goes down low enough, Putin is going to stop killing people,” Trump said in an interview on CNBC. “If you get energy down, another $10 a barrel, he’s going to have no choice because his economy stinks.”
The Trump administration has also deployed two nuclear submarines to strategic locations closer to Russia, a move meant to signal U.S. resolve.
Despite the high-stakes diplomacy, sources close to the Kremlin remain doubtful that Trump’s strategy will alter Russia’s course.
According to a Reuters report, Putin is unconvinced that the August 8th deadline carries meaningful consequences.
Russian officials, emboldened by battlefield momentum and military support from countries like China and North Korea, reportedly believe they can weather any additional economic pressure Washington might apply.
The Kremlin has insisted that international sanctions imposed since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine have had limited impact.
Moscow also intends on keeping to its goal of capturing four regions of Ukraine in their entirety.
Although Putin does not want to anger Trump, and he realises that he may be spurning a chance to improve relations with Washington, his war goals take precedence, sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters.
Still, Witkoff’s mission—which included a meeting with Vladimir Putin on Wednesday—is seen as one of Trump’s last serious efforts to secure peace.
According to the New York Post, U.S. officials have urged Witkoff to take a tough stance in negotiations, emphasising that the looming sanctions are real—and that this may be the last opportunity for diplomacy before more punishing steps are taken.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed Trump’s involvement, speaking with him by phone on Tuesday. He reportedly discussed both potential arms deals and the U.S. strategy for sanctions enforcement if Russia fails to respond to the deadline.
