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U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia soon for further talks on the war in Ukraine, according to U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Sunday, Trump hinted at a meeting with Witkoff and Russian officials as a follow-up to previous talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which have not yielded progress.
As Russia’s bombardments of Ukraine continue unabated, Yuriy Boyechko—the CEO of Hope for Ukraine, a charity that helps communities on the front line—told Newsweek that based on Putin’s rhetoric, Witkoff’s trip “appears to be a complete waste of time and resources.”
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
*U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrives for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25.*
(KRISTINA KORMILITSYNA/Getty Images)
### Why It Matters
Trump has expressed growing impatience at Moscow’s intransigence, threatening secondary sanctions if Russia did not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days. This deadline was later shortened to less than two weeks. Trump’s announcement of further talks with Witkoff is likely meant to add pressure on Moscow.
### What To Know
On Sunday, Trump told reporters that Witkoff would visit Moscow “next week, Wednesday or Thursday,” and the envoy would convey a message to Russia to stop the killing. Ukrainian media reported this meeting as taking place on August 6 or 7, which would be before a deadline of “10 or 12 days” from Trump’s warning.
Witkoff, a real estate magnate, has already met Putin several times in Moscow in his role as a White House special envoy, but the Russian leader has repeatedly rejected American ceasefire plans. Trump has stepped up his criticism of Putin recently, condemning Russia’s actions after an attack on an apartment block in Kyiv that killed 31 people.
Boyechko said Putin is not ready to stop the war and will not back down in his demands for Ukraine to hand over parts of Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia still under Ukrainian control. He suggested focusing on closing loopholes that allow Russia to generate revenue from oil sales and using frozen Russian assets to fund military aid for Ukraine.
### What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that his special envoy would be in Moscow “next week, Wednesday or Thursday,” and he wanted to “get a deal where people stop getting killed.”
He added: “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.”
Hope for Ukraine CEO Yuriy Boyechko told Newsweek based on Putin’s recent comments, Witkoff’s trip “appears to be a complete waste of time and resources.” He said: “For Putin, occupying Ukraine is a life mission. He intends to use Ukrainians under Russian rule to eventually attack NATO countries.”
### What Happens Next
Given Russia’s continued attacks on Ukraine, the chances of any breakthrough in diplomatic talks appear remote.
The Institute for the Study of War stated that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comments blaming Kyiv for slowing negotiations showed Moscow was not backing down on its long-standing demands of essentially the complete capitulation of Ukraine.
