 "US President Donald Trump (R) and Russian President Vladimir Putin (L). FIle Image")
US President Donald Trump said his foreign envoy, Steve Witkoff , will travel to Russia in the coming days as he threatened new sanctions against Moscow. Trump revealed his ambition while speaking to reporters on Thursday afternoon. While lambasting Russia, Trump described the country’s continued assault on Ukraine as “disgusting”.
However, he expressed scepticism over whether these sanctions would bother Russian President Vladimir Putin. “We’re gonna put sanctions, I don’t know that sanctions bother him [Putin]”, Trump told reporters at the White House.
Trump went on to reveal that Witkoff’s previously unknown travel to Israel will be followed by his trip to Russia. “He’s going to Russia, believe it or not,” Trump said when questioned about Witkoff’s current trip to the Middle East, where he is meeting with officials to discuss Israel’s war in Gaza.
Trump calls Russian assault on Ukraine ‘disgusting’
It is pertinent to note that Witkoff’s last known visit to Russia was in April this year, when he met Putin in the Kremlin. However, the talks between the two did not yield an immediate breakthrough in bringing the Ukraine war to an end.
Since then, Trump’s frustration towards Putin has been increasing to a great extent, with prospects for peace growing dim. On Thursday, Trump showed his anger when asked about Russia’s continued missile strikes towards Ukraine. “I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing. I think it’s disgusting,” he said.
“I don’t know that sanctions bother him. You know, they know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions and tariffs and everything else. I don’t know if that has any effect, but we’re going to do it," he concluded.
It is pertinent to note that the US has introduced 25 per cent sanctions on Indian goods because of New Delhi’s continued purchase of oil from Russia. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has warned the same thing to China as well, to which Beijing pointed out how the US continues to trade with Russia.