U.S. President Donald Trump has revealed that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, may travel to Russia this coming week, potentially on Wednesday or Thursday as Trump warned that if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a deal by 8 August, Washington will impose new economic sanctions.
"Well, there'll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions. You know, they're wily characters," Trump told reporters. "Steve is focused right now on the border in terms of Gaza, getting people fed. And he may be going... I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday, may be going to Russia. They've asked that he meet. So we'll see what happens."
The announcement follows a shift in tone from the U.S. president, who has recently distanced himself from earlier conciliatory rhetoric towards Moscow. Instead, Trump has signalled increased support for Ukraine, including openness to sending more military aid if Russia fails to halt its attacks.
While Witkoff’s trip may include humanitarian discussions linked to Gaza, Trump confirmed that Russian officials have invited him for talks, indicating a possible diplomatic opening.
Frontlines heating up
The diplomatic efforts come amid an intensifying conflict. Russia has claimed gains in Donetsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv, while also announcing it had struck Ukrainian drone facilities and shot down more than 300 Ukrainian drones in one day.
In response, Ukraine launched a series of drone strikes deep inside Russian territory, targeting fuel storage sites, a drone operations base, and an electronics plant. Several people were reported killed or injured in the attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia had launched more than 5,000 glide bombs and thousands of drones in July alone, urging the international community to toughen sanctions and halt the attacks.
Countdown to 8 August
President Trump has drawn a clear line, stating that if Moscow does not move towards a ceasefire by 8 August, new sanctions will follow. While the administration has not yet detailed the scope of the measures, they are expected to target key Russian economic sectors.
Witkoff’s potential trip to Russia could play a role in testing the Kremlin’s willingness to negotiate. The U.S. has not confirmed whether the envoy will meet Putin directly, but Trump said Russia “would like to see him,” adding that the visit will depend on evolving circumstances.
With tensions rising and the conflict escalating, the coming days are likely to determine whether diplomacy can gain ground or whether Washington will escalate pressure through fresh sanctions.
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as Amer...
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing force...
The 27 European Union member states have approved €20 million (approximately $23.3 million) in assistance for Armenia from the European Peace Faci...
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said ...
Kazakhstan lost around 3.8 million tonnes of oil exports following an attack on facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), Energy Minister Y...
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as American military assets arrived in the Middle East amid renewed tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing forces from its facility in northeastern Syria amid shifts in the country’s political and security landscape.
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday (29 January), declaring that Europe had found “self-respect” in standing up for a rules-based global order.
Kazakhstan lost around 3.8 million tonnes of oil exports following an attack on facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov said, stressing that it is still too early to assess the losses in monetary terms.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Residents in Syria’s Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli have stepped up volunteer patrols amid growing pressure from the country’s Islamist-led government, expressing deep mistrust of Damascus despite a fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match. Despite the setback, Qarabağ secured a play-off spot, with results elsewhere going in the Azerbaijani champions’ favour on the final matchday.
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he rejects U.S. interference in Iraq's internal affairs, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support to the country if Maliki was picked as prime minister.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday the importance of unifying international efforts to prevent the return of "terrorist groups", including Islamic State.
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday (29 January), declaring that Europe had found “self-respect” in standing up for a rules-based global order.
Colombian authorities on Wednesday (28 January) located a missing plane carrying 15 people in the northeast of the country, with no survivors found, an Air Force source and local media said.
Chinese authorities say they've carried out capital punishment against a group of individuals tied to notorious telecommunications fraud syndicates operating across the southern border, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is likely to increase its number of parliamentary seats and gain a majority in the lower house, a preliminary survey by the Nikkei newspaper showed on Thursday (29 January).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment