Tonight, US President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Withhof arrives in Moscow. This visit comes at a tense time – US-Russia relations have worsened after former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s warnings of possible nuclear conflict and Trump’s decision to move US submarines closer to Russian territory.
Withhof’s prior trips to Moscow focused on hopes of negotiating a ceasefire on the Russia-Ukraine front. However, the Trump administration has now lost faith in Putin, and new US measures against Russia are expected on August 8.
This Withhof visit is viewed as a potential “last chance” for Trump’s proposals to alter the US-Russia dynamic, but there are no strong expectations of success. Notably, Putin has been ignoring US ultimatums and avoiding direct talks with the White House.
It is anticipated that Putin will try to push Russia’s own terms for ending the war—terms the Trump administration is unlikely to accept. The visit may be used by Moscow for propaganda, showcasing Putin’s political weight.
Analyst Vitaly Portnikov emphasizes the need for a firm US stance: only strict measures against Russia will halt the war. Otherwise, the Kremlin may regard US actions as a Russian diplomatic win.
