Trump confirms US envoy Witkoff to travel to Russia
Donald Trump has confirmed his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia in the coming week, ahead of a deadline the U.S. president has set for imposing fresh sanctions on Moscow.
Speaking to reporters, Trump also said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region."
Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the U.S. military.
The nuclear saber-rattling came against the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump at the end of next week for Russia to take steps towards ending the Ukraine war or face unspecified new sanctions.
The Republican leader said Witkoff would visit "I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Trump's efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.
When reporters asked what Witkoff's message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Trump replied: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."
- 'Secondary tariffs' -
Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean "secondary tariffs" targeting Russia's remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.
Despite the pressure from Washington, Russia has continued its onslaught against its pro-Western neighbor.
Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half-year invasion were "unchanged."
"We need a lasting and stable peace on solid foundations that would satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and would ensure the security of both countries," Putin told reporters.
But he added that "the conditions (from the Russian side) certainly remain the same."
Russia has frequently called on Ukraine to effectively cede control of four regions Moscow claims to have annexed, a demand Kyiv has called unacceptable.
Putin also wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join NATO.
Ukraine launched a drone attack Sunday which sparked a fire at an oil depot in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympics.
Kyiv has said it will intensify its air strikes against Russia in response to an increase in Russian attacks on its territory in recent weeks, which have killed dozens of civilians.
Russia's Ministry of Defense said on Monday, its air defenses intercepted 61 Ukrainian drones overnight.
One person was killed by Russian shelling in the southern Kherson region, Ukraine's military administration said in Telegram post early Monday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said Sunday that the two sides were preparing a prisoner exchange that would see 1,200 Ukrainian troops return home, following talks with Russia in Istanbul in July.
Trump began his second term with his own rosy predictions that the war in Ukraine -- raging since Russia invaded its neighbor in February 2022 -- would soon end.
In recent weeks, Trump has increasingly voiced frustration with Putin over Moscow's unrelenting offensive.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
L'Orient-Le Jour
an hour ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Israel blew up the Port,' Zeaiter says, points Lebanese Army's 'responsibility'
BEIRUT — Former MP and public works minister Ghazi Zeaiter dismissed all accusations levied against him in the Beirut Port explosion case as "politically and media-driven, not judicial," during an interview published on Wednesday by Kalam Inas. According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), which cited the interview, Zeaiter told journalist Inas al-Jarmakani that "Israel blew up the Port," and that "a great responsibility lies with the Lebanese Army," pointing to its role in authorizing the entry of hazardous materials to the Port, notably ammonium nitrate, which would later cause the explosion. Zeaiter repeatedly missed hearings before the investigating judge at the Court of Justice, Tarek Bitar, who had summoned him as a suspect in the investigation into the double explosion at the Beirut Port on Aug 4, 2020. Bitar had to suspend his investigations in January 2023, due to the hostility of a large part of the political class, notably Hezbollah, as well as a series of lawsuits directed against him. He resumed his investigation in early 2025 and has already interrogated several former officials, including former Prime Minister Hassane Diab and former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. The devastating event, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, destroyed a large part of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring 6,500. This blast started with a fire in a Port warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were being improperly stored, despite repeated warnings to the highest authorities, which now stand accused of negligence. Zeaiter was minister of public works and transport in 2014 at the time of the ammonium nitrate was unloaded at the Port, allegedly brought there by a Russian ship. For the first time, Zeaiter revealed documents he received during his tenure as minister of public works, including 'a letter from the Russian embassy concerning the poor conditions of the Russian sailors aboard the ship,' as well as another letter from the Ukrainian embassy inquiring about the failure to implement a judicial decision issued by Judge Jad Maalouf to refloat the Russian ship. In both cases, he claimed that the "necessary actions were taken." While refusing to place blame on anyone — 'out of respect for the blood of the Port martyrs and the tears of their families' — Zeaiter stated: 'A great responsibility falls on the Lebanese Army,' explaining that 'the entry of ammonium nitrate or any dangerous materials requires a permit from army intelligence.' 'Even the minister of public works needs permission from army intelligence and security agencies to visit and inspect the Port,' he added. 'I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself' 'Judge Sawan had mentioned suspicions surrounding 12 ministers and four prime ministers, yet he only sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri regarding suspicions against PM Hassan Diab, MPs Ghazi Zeaiter and Ali Hassan Khalil, and former Minister Youssef Fenianos," Zeaiter said. "That's when doubts began to arise about the politicization of this case. I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself.' Zeaiter also revealed that 'Investigative Judge Tarek Bitar gave guarantees to Abbas Ibrahim, Nohad Machnouk, and Hassan Diab to appear before him without being detained. A similar offer was made to me through a lawyer — to appear and present all the evidence and documents I have, without being detained.' Zeaiter said he 'refused Bitar's offer as it violates legal procedures,' noting that he had already submitted a recusal request against Bitar and that his prosecution should fall under parliamentary jurisdiction. He disclosed that after Judge Sawan filed charges, he visited Berri, who told him: 'If I knew you and MP Ali Hassan Khalil were responsible, I would be the first to hold you accountable. I protect the Constitution, not individuals.' Zeaiter said that Berri had called for a parliamentary meeting devoted to the issue of lifting the immunity on sitting MPs, following a petition signed by 26 members of parliament. However, quorum was not met, as most parliamentary blocs had not been present. 'Israel is the one that bombed the Port' Zeaiter maintained that he believed Israel was behind the Port explosion. 'Israel is the one that bombed the port,' he insisted, stating that "some people saw Israeli aircraft in the sky, and the destruction caused resembled that of recent Israeli military operations." Residents reported hearing airplane sounds seconds before the blast, with some describing a whistling noise similar to a jet engine, however the director of Bellingcat recently told L'Orient-Le Jour that while it's possible, there is no evidence to support the theory and other experts have responded to the theory saying the fire that preceded the explosion could have made sounds resembling that of fighter jets. As for the clash that occurred between the neighborhoods of Chiyah and Ain al-Rummaneh following a protest by Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters against Judge Bitar, Zeaiter claimed: 'The demonstrators did not enter Ain al-Rummaneh. It was the Lebanese Forces who fired at the protesters.' When asked what he would do if a formal indictment found him guilty, Zeaiter replied: 'We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.'
Nahar Net
3 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Shiite Duo ministers to attend Thursday's cabinet session on US paper
by Naharnet Newsdesk 6 hours Environment Minister Tamara al-Zein of the Amal Movement and Health Minister Rakan Nassereddine of Hezbollah will attend Thursday's cabinet session that will tackle the latest U.S. paper on Hezbollah's disarmament, the PSP's al-Anbaa news portal reported, quoting an unnamed source. Al-Zein and Nassereddine 'are supposed to attend the session, unless certain developments take place in the next two days,' the source said. 'They walked out of the (cabinet) session (on Tuesday) in the last minutes, after they took part in all discussions, which were good, positive and extensive,' the source added. A Hezbollah statement said Wednesday that the two ministers walked out of the session 'in rejection of this decision and to reflect the rejection of the resistance, with all the significant segments of the Lebanese society that it represents, who belong to all regions, sects and parties, and also to reflect the broad popular rejection of the decision to subject Lebanon to U.S. hegemony and Israeli occupation.'
Nahar Net
4 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Trump to put additional 25% import taxes on India, bringing combined tariffs to 50%
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 August 2025, 17:52 President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to place an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs imposed by the United States on India to 50%. The tariffs would go into effect 21 days after the signing of the order, meaning that both India and Russia might have time to negotiate with the administration on the import taxes. Trump's move could reshape India's economic ambitions. Many American companies have seen India as an alternative to the Chinese manufacturing that Trump had hoped to diminish through the use of tariffs. Even though China also buys oil from Russia, Beijing was not subject to the additional tariffs in the order signed by the Republican president. The U.S. and China are currently in negotiations on trade, with Washington imposing a 30% tariff on Chinese goods and facing a 10% retaliatory tax from Beijing on American products.
