U.S. to Send Witkoff to Russia Again for Further Peace Talks

Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy for President Donald Trump, is expected to travel to Moscow for the fourth time in an effort to persuade Russia to accept a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. CNN reported Saturday that the Trump administration is preparing to send Witkoff to meet with senior Russian officials in hopes of securing support for the proposed U.S. peace plan.

Earlier in the week, Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Paris, where they held meetings with European and Ukrainian officials to discuss potential ceasefire terms. Following the talks, a visibly frustrated Rubio warned that the U.S. could walk away from the negotiating table if a deal wasn’t reached soon—a statement interpreted by some as a veiled warning to Ukraine.

President Trump later echoed Rubio’s remarks, stating he, too, was willing to abandon the peace talks if no agreement could be secured. On Friday, it was reported that the U.S. was open to recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea as part of a ceasefire framework. Then on Saturday, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellog, confirmed that NATO membership for Ukraine was “off the table.”

Russia has repeatedly outlined its conditions for peace, including in a speech by President Vladimir Putin last June. It remains unclear whether the U.S. is willing to meet what Moscow considers to be its baseline demands—or whether Ukraine would accept such terms.

With U.S. military and economic assistance—approved under the Biden administration—nearing depletion, the Trump administration appears to be facing a narrowing window for action. Officials reportedly fear being forced to either request additional funding from Congress, something Trump has staunchly opposed, or allow the war to continue without U.S. support.