Trump envoy Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow this week for discussions with Putin

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is scheduled to visit Moscow for discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to two individuals familiar with the arrangements. Witkoff, who serves as Trump’s envoy for the Middle East, has increasingly been involved in efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which has persisted for three years. The sources, who requested anonymity, corroborated a report from Bloomberg News regarding Witkoff’s upcoming trip to Moscow.

One source indicated that Witkoff is anticipated to travel to Moscow this week. Trump has shown interest in meeting with Putin and has sought to improve the strained relations with Russia that characterized the previous Biden administration since taking office in January. Last month, Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow and successfully facilitated the return of American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, who had been sentenced to 14 years in a Russian prison for possessing medically prescribed marijuana.

Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia for discussions on Tuesday with Ukrainian officials concerning the war. U.S. officials plan to use this meeting to assess whether Ukraine is prepared to make significant concessions to Russia in order to reach a resolution to the conflict, as stated by two U.S. officials.