U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia in the coming days for further talks on the war in Ukraine, according to U.S. President Donald Trump.
On Sunday, Trump teased a meeting with Witkoff and Russian officials in the follow-up to previous talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which have not yielded progress.
As Russia's bombardments of Ukraine continue unabated, Yuriy Boyechko—the CEO of Hope for Ukraine, a charity that helps communities on the front line of the war—told Newsweek that based on Putin's rhetoric, Witkoff's trip "appears to be a complete waste of time and resources."
Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment.
Trump has expressed growing impatience at Moscow's intransigence in ending the war it began three and a half years ago, threatening secondary sanctions on Russia if it did not agree to a ceasefire within 50 days.
This has since been shortened to less than two weeks, and Trump's announcement of further talks involving his envoy is likely meant to add pressure on Moscow, although the Kremlin's rhetoric since the U.S. president's threats of sanctions suggests no shift in its war aims.
