Will Witkoff’s trip be Trump’s final contact with Putin? Expert weighs in
Photo: US Special Representative Steve Witkoff (GettyImages)
The trip of Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy of US President Donald Trump, to Moscow could become the last contact between the American leader and Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated military expert Mykhailo Samus in a comment to RBC-Ukraine’s YouTube channel.
According to him, Putin currently does not know what to do, but he is clearly trying to buy time.
Commenting on the upcoming visit of Trump’s Special Envoy to Moscow, Samus noted that it could be the final contact between Trump and Putin through Witkoff and Russia’s ambassador for investment affairs, Kirill Dmitriev, regarding what steps to take next.
"For example, can Russia count on sanctions being lifted if it agrees to a ceasefire... Marco Rubio said that a few days ago, there was communication with Putin’s top representatives — apparently it was Kiriyenko or Patrushev — and thus the last message from Trump will be delivered to Putin, and Putin will, in turn, send his response," the expert suggested.
According to him, if Putin’s response is the same as it was today, when he accused Trump of having excessive expectations of Russia, then this will lead to the worst-case scenario for the Kremlin's leader.
That is, as Samus pointed out, the process of gradually imposing an embargo on Russian oil and eventually on the Russian economy will begin.
Witkoff’s visit to Moscow
Today, US President Donald Trump announced that his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia.
In particular, during a conversation with journalists, Trump stated that the United States will impose sanctions against Russia. However, he expressed doubt that they would have any real impact on Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Trump then revealed Witkoff’s plans, saying that after he visits the Middle East, he would head to Russia.
No further details about the upcoming trip were disclosed.
Witkoff’s last known visit to Russia took place in April this year, when he met with Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. During that same trip, the Special Envoy also met with Putin.
As reported by Reuters, Witkoff later told Trump that the fastest path to peace in Ukraine would be to give Russia ownership of four eastern Ukrainian regions.
