U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday for a high-stakes diplomatic mission aimed at securing a peace deal in the Ukraine war, just two days ahead of a deadline set by President Donald Trump for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face sweeping new sanctions.
Witkoff—a real estate magnate with no formal diplomatic background—was welcomed by Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who also heads the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Russian state media broadcast footage of the two men strolling near the Kremlin, engaged in what appeared to be serious discussions.
A U.S. official told Reuters that Witkoff is expected to meet with senior Russian officials during his trip, though it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin himself will grant an audience. The Kremlin has not confirmed any official meetings.
President Trump has recently voiced increasing frustration over Putin’s unwillingness to compromise, threatening retaliatory tariffs against countries that continue to import Russian energy—particularly targeting India and China, two of Russia’s key oil buyers.
Russia has rejected Trump’s threats as unlawful. Kremlin insiders told Reuters that Putin is unlikely to concede, believing his forces retain the upper hand in the conflict and that his long-term strategic objectives outweigh any diplomatic fallout with Washington.
“This visit is a last-ditch effort to craft a mutually face-saving exit from the deadlock,” said Gerhard Mangott, an Austrian political analyst and longtime observer of Russian-Western relations. “But Moscow has made it clear for years what its conditions are for any ceasefire—and they haven’t changed.”
Mangott added that Trump will now face mounting pressure to act on his ultimatum, including expanding tariffs not just on Russian goods but also on imports from countries engaging in trade with Moscow—possibly including uranium.
Putin, meanwhile, is reportedly unconcerned about the impact of further U.S. sanctions, believing Russia has weathered the worst of Western economic pressure after years of conflict. According to Russian sources, while the Kremlin would prefer to avoid further confrontation with Trump, military objectives remain Putin’s top priority.
Witkoff has met with Putin on several occasions, and since joining Trump’s team in January, he has been assigned to broker ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza, and to negotiate around Iran’s nuclear ambitions. However, critics continue to question his qualifications for such a sensitive role.
During his last visit to Moscow in April, Witkoff attended a meeting with Putin, Dmitriev, and senior Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov—without any accompanying U.S. diplomats—fueling concern over his effectiveness.
Witkoff also drew criticism earlier this year for comments made during an interview with Tucker Carlson, where he dismissed concerns about Russian expansionism as “preposterous,” claiming there was no indication Putin sought to absorb Ukraine or threaten NATO. That view is widely rejected by Ukraine and its European allies, who point to the 2022 invasion and Russia’s continued aggression as proof of broader territorial ambitions.
Putin, for his part, has repeatedly denied any plans to move beyond Ukraine, accusing the West of fear-mongering and “Russophobia.” Whether Witkoff’s latest trip can shift the impasse remains uncertain—but with Trump’s deadline looming, both sides may soon face consequences if diplomacy fails.
