Moscow: US President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, landed in Moscow on Wednesday, marking a significant diplomatic engagement just days before a crucial deadline. This visit comes as part of an effort to persuade Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine, as failure to do so could lead to stringent new sanctions.

According to Anadolu Agency, Witkoff's arrival was reported by the Russian state news agency Tass. He touched down at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport early in the morning, where he was received by Kirill Dmitriev, a close aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund. In a gesture of diplomatic camaraderie, Witkoff and Dmitriev later took a stroll through Zaryadye Park, situated next to Moscow's iconic Red Square.

This visit is Witkoff's fifth trip to Russia since the beginning of the year, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations. His previous visits, including two in April, saw meetings with President Putin himself. The Kremlin, on Tuesday, left open the possibility of another meeting between Putin and Witkoff this week, emphasizing the importance, significance, and usefulness of the ongoing contacts with the US envoy.

The timing of Witkoff's visit is critical, as it comes just two days before the expiration of a 10-day deadline set by President Trump. This deadline, which falls on August 8, was a reduction from an initial 50-day period given in June. Trump's impatience with the lack of progress in negotiations led to this shortened timeline, accompanied by a threat of imposing import duties of up to 100% on Russia and its trading partners, should Moscow and Kyiv fail to reach an agreement.