US envoy Witkoff lands in Moscow ahead of Trump’s Friday deadline on Russia

US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in the Russian capital on Wednesday for a series of high-level meetings, according to Russian state media, just days before President Donald Trump’s deadline for Russia to halt its military campaign in Ukraine.

The visit comes as pressure mounts over the ongoing war, with Trump warning of new sanctions if Moscow does not de-escalate by Friday. Speaking to reporters earlier this week, Trump said he would wait for the outcome of the discussions in Moscow before deciding on next steps.

"We're going to see what happens," he said. "We'll make that determination at that time."

Russian state news agency TASS reported that Witkoff was received by Kirill Dmitriev, the presidential special representative. While it remains unclear whether President Vladimir Putin will personally meet with the American envoy, Kremlin officials have not ruled out such a meeting. Witkoff has met with Putin on several occasions in the past.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials reported renewed attacks in the Zaporizhzhia region overnight, where at least two people were killed and 10 others injured in shelling attributed to Russian forces.

Although the White House has yet to detail the specific measures it might take, Trump has previously floated the idea of “secondary tariffs” targeting countries still engaging in trade with Russia, including China and India. Such actions could put significant strain on global trade flows.

Trump’s administration has expressed growing frustration with Moscow’s military campaign. Russian forces have recently increased their drone strikes and ground advances, pushing into regions not officially annexed by Moscow.

Responding to questions on Monday about the purpose of Witkoff’s trip and whether there was room for Russia to avoid further penalties, Trump said, “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.”

So far, diplomatic efforts have yielded little progress. Three rounds of peace negotiations in Istanbul ended without agreement. Moscow continues to insist on major concessions, including territorial claims and a halt to Ukraine’s push for NATO membership, while Kyiv maintains its demand for a full ceasefire and restoration of sovereignty.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also stepped up calls for tougher international action, recently urging allies to support efforts toward “regime change” in Moscow.

Trump’s firm stance has been underscored by recent military movements. Earlier this week, he said two US nuclear submarines were deployed “in the region” following an online spat with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. He did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, nor did he reveal their exact locations.

In response, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov urged restraint, saying, “Russia is very attentive to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation. And we believe that everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric.”

Despite the ongoing conflict and rising tensions, Russian officials described the talks with Witkoff as productive and welcomed Washington’s continued diplomatic engagement. “We consider these talks important, substantial and helpful,” Peskov said.

As the Friday deadline approaches, all eyes are on Moscow to see whether the discussions can yield any shift in the more than three-year-long war.