Steven Witkoff, Special Envoy of US President Donald Trump, arrived in Moscow this morning, Russian news agency TASS reported. Witkoff was met at Vnukovo Airport by Russian Presidential Special Representative Kirill Dmitriev.
The US envoy is scheduled to meet Russian leaders just days before the expiration of an ultimatum issued by Trump demanding Moscow halt its offensive in Ukraine. Known as Trump’s point person for ‘peace missions’, Witkoff has met Russian President Vladimir Putin multiple times previously, though these talks failed to alter Russia’s course in the war with Kyiv.
US-Russia relations saw heightened tensions last week after Trump deployed two nuclear submarines following an online exchange with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Trump granted Russia a 10-day deadline, expiring Friday, to cease its Ukraine offensive or face new sanctions, specifically threatening “secondary tariffs” on countries like China and India continuing trade with Moscow. “We have a meeting with Russia tomorrow: we’ll see what happens, we’ll make that decision then,” Trump stated yesterday.
Separately, regional authorities reported a Russian airstrike hit the Zaporizhzhia district in southeastern Ukraine this morning, killing two people and injuring 12 others, including four children. Regional Military Administration Head Ivan Fedorov announced the casualties via Telegram, stating, “This morning, the Russians struck the Zaporizhzhia district. Two people were killed and ten were injured, including four children.” Ukraine’s State Emergency Service confirmed the attack struck a recreational center between 5:55 AM and 6:10 AM local time.**
Overnight, Ukraine’s Air Force reported Russian forces launched 45 drones of various types, including Shahed kamikaze drones. Ukrainian defenses downed or electronically neutralized 36 drones across northern, southern, and eastern regions. Nine drones struck three locations, with debris from a downed drone causing damage at a fourth site. Conversely, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its air defenses intercepted 51 Ukrainian drones overnight over four Russian regions and occupied Crimea, with the majority destroyed over Rostov (16) and Bryansk (16) regions.**