Trump announces visit to Russia by his envoy Witkoff "Wednesday or Thursday"

President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff would visit Russia " on Wednesday or Thursday ," after setting an ultimatum for the Russian president to end the war in Ukraine. The envoy's visit will take place " I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday ," he told reporters.

Donald Trump also said that two nuclear submarines he ordered deployed following an online spat with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev were now " in the region ." He did not specify whether they were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not provide details on the exact locations of their deployment, which the U.S. military is keeping secret.

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The show of force comes as Donald Trump set a deadline of the end of this week for Russia to take steps to end the war in Ukraine, or face new, unspecified sanctions.

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Steve Witkoff several times in Moscow before Donald Trump's efforts to mend relations with the Kremlin abruptly ended. Asked by reporters what Witkoff's message to Moscow would be and whether there was anything Russia could do to avoid sanctions, Trump replied: " Yes, make a deal so people stop being killed. "

Donald Trump has threatened to impose " secondary tariffs " on countries that continue to trade with Russia, such as China and India.