Trump says Witkoff to visit Russia, expects to impose sanctions

Josh Wingrove, Bloomberg News on Jul 31, 2025

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WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump said special envoy Steve Witkoff would be headed to Russia after wrapping up a visit to Israel ahead of a new deadline for Moscow to halt its fight with Ukraine.

“Yeah, going to Israel and then he’s going to Russia, believe it or not,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

Trump also said he expected to impose sanctions once a new deadline he set earlier this week expires, but did not foresee that it would alter Russian President Vladimir Putin’s behavior.

“We have about eight days, so yeah, we’re going to put sanctions. I don’t know that sanctions bother him,” he said.

Trump on Tuesday said he was setting a new 10-day deadline — which falls on Aug. 8 — for Russia to reach a truce with Ukraine. The U.S. president has repeatedly threatened new economic penalties on Russia only to hold off in the past, saying he wanted to preserve the chance for talks to end the war, now in its fourth year.

Trump on July 14 originally issued a 50-day deadline for Russia, before shortening it this week. Trump has said he would impose 100% tariffs if Russia did not comply with his calls for a truce. Advisers have cast the penalties as likely taking the form of secondary levies that would hit countries that buy Russian exports such as oil. Washington and its allies view those purchases as helping bolster Russia’s economy and undercutting sanctions.

Such sanctions threaten to hit India and China, two major trading partners. Trump has lashed out at India in recent days ahead of an Aug. 1 deadline for the countries to reach a trade deal or see the imposition of new tariff rates. The U.S. president said India will face a 25% tariff starting Aug. 1 and could face additional levies over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian energy and weapons.

While Trump has said talks between India and the U.S. were still ongoing, he has also said on social media that “I don’t care what India does with Russia,” and referred to them both as “dead economies.”