US Special Envoy Witkoff Arrives in Moscow Amid Heightened Tensions
US Special Envoy for the President, Steve Witkoff, landed in Moscow on Wednesday, August 6, where he was greeted by Kirill Dmitriev, a representative of Russian President Vladimir Putin, reports 24brussels.
While Russian sources involved in organizing the visit did not clarify whom Witkoff would meet, the Kremlin has previously indicated a potential meeting between Witkoff and Putin. This visit represents yet another bid to find a resolution that enables both parties to preserve face amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
“Witkoff’s visit is the last attempt to find a solution that allows both sides to save face. However, I do not believe there will be any compromise between them. Russia will insist that it is ready for a ceasefire but only under the terms it has articulated over the past two or three years. Trump will be under pressure to follow through on his announcements—raising tariffs on all countries purchasing oil and gas, as well as potentially uranium from Russia,” stated Austrian analyst Gerhard Mangott, who previously belonged to a group of Western scholars and journalists that regularly met with Putin.
Witkoff, a billionaire and Trump associate lacking prior diplomatic experience, has conducted extensive meetings with Putin. Critics accuse Witkoff of echoing Kremlin rhetoric. For instance, in a March interview with journalist Tucker Carlson, Witkoff claimed there was no reason for Russia to wish to seize Ukraine or expand its territorial claims, stating it was “absurd” to think that Putin would send his army to fight Europe.
US President Donald Trump warned that he would implement anti-Russian sanctions if Moscow did not agree to a ceasefire in its war against Ukraine by Friday, August 8. These sanctions could include high tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy, particularly oil. Currently, India and China are the largest buyers of Russian oil.
However, Putin is unlikely to yield to such an ultimatum, believing he is winning the war, according to previous reports from Reuters, citing Kremlin-adjacent sources. Putin is skeptical that further sanctions from the US will have a substantial impact after numerous economic restrictions have been in place during the 3.5 years of full-scale war. The Russian dictator recognizes he risks aggravating Trump and missing a chance to improve relations with Washington and the West, but his military ambitions take precedence. Meanwhile, reports have emerged that Russia is considering a “air ceasefire” to avert the imposition of secondary sanctions by Trump.
