Trump Envoy Visits Moscow Amid Russia-Ukraine Tensions

Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul with close ties to President Trump, is undertaking a backchannel diplomatic mission in Moscow to seek a breakthrough in the Russia-Ukraine war, operating unofficially to test potential settlement options without formal US government commitment. This informal engagement comes amid escalating military tensions and strained official US-Russia relations, with the Biden administration publicly supporting Ukraine and opposing territorial concessions. Meanwhile, President Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin's refusal to end the conflict, recently tightening deadlines for a ceasefire and deploying nuclear submarines in response to provocations from Moscow. Trump's evolving stance marks a shift from earlier in the year when he criticized Ukraine and appeared to blame it for the war's outbreak. Political figures like Adam Smith and Kurt Volker note that Putin has undermined Trump's expectations to quickly end the war, and they advocate for increased US military support to Ukraine to signal resolve to Russia. Overall, the situation highlights the complexities and high stakes of US-Russia relations under the Trump administration's efforts to navigate the ongoing conflict.