Trump on new anti-Russia sanctions, nuclear submarines, Witkoff’s visit to Moscow

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will impose new sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not reached by August 8. This date marks the end of the ten-day ultimatum previously issued by Mr. Trump.

“There’ll be sanctions, but they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions. They’re wily characters and they’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions, so we’ll see what happens,” Trump told reporters.

Nuclear submarines

Trump stated that the nuclear submarines he had earlier ordered to move toward Russia are now where they are supposed to be. He shared this with journalists before departing Bedminster, New Jersey, for Washington.

Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to approach Russia following a clash with Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. The conflict escalated after the U.S. President demanded that Russia reach a peace agreement on Ukraine within ten days. Medvedev, in a post on social media platform X, called the demand a threat and a step toward war.

Witkoff to arrive in Russia

Donald Trump announced that Special Representative Steve Witkoff will arrive in Russia on August 6 or 7, according to Reuters. The U.S. President had previously announced Witkoff’s upcoming trip to Moscow.

Witkoff is known to have visited Russia four times—once in February, once in March, and twice in April. During the most recent visit, Russia and the U.S. discussed the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine.

By Vugar Khalilov