Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, may be traveling to Russia this week as part of ongoing efforts to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters before leaving his golf resort in New Jersey, Trump mentioned that Witkoff's visit could happen "Wednesday or Thursday," emphasizing the urgency of the mission.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump's comments come in the wake of a self-imposed deadline that he set for Russia to cease its military operations in Ukraine. The deadline, which expires on Friday, includes a stern warning from Trump that failure to comply will result in sanctions and secondary tariffs. "There'll be sanctions," Trump asserted, acknowledging Russia's previous ability to circumvent such measures.

In response to Trump's expressed "disappointment" over the lack of progress on the Ukrainian issue, Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned against high expectations. During a press briefing in Valaam on Friday, Putin remarked, "Concerning any disappointments coming from anyone, all disappointments arise from excessive expectations. This is a well-known general rule."

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, which began in February 2022, has been a critical point of tension between the US and Russia. Initially, Trump granted Russia a 50-day period to end the war, but in late July, he revised the timeline to "about 10 or 12 days." As the new deadline approaches, all eyes are on the potential diplomatic developments that could arise from Witkoff's anticipated visit to Moscow.