Trump's envoy to fly in to Russia as US deadline to end Ukraine conflict nears

Donald Trump's special envoy is expected in Moscow just days before the US president's Friday deadline for Russia to make progress on ending the war in Ukraine or face increased US sanctions.

- Shaun Walker

Trump said Steve Witkoff would visit Moscow tomorrow or Thursday. When asked what message Witkoff would take to Russia and what Vladimir Putin could do to avoid new sanctions, the US president answered: "Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed."

In Kyiv, there is little expectation that Witkoff will make a breakthrough with Putin, but a hope that Trump's changed rhetoric and tougher stance on Moscow may lead to a real change in US support for Ukraine.

Sources in Kyiv said they expected Keith Kellogg, Trump's Ukraine envoy, to visit the country towards the end of the week, possibly to coincide with Witkoff's visit to Moscow.

Trump came into office convinced he could do a deal with Putin but appears to have become increasingly frustrated with Russia's actions.

Last week he described continued attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine as "disgusting", while on Sunday he said two nuclear submarines that he deployed after online threats from the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev were now "in the region", without giving further details.