Washington, 1 August 2025 (dpa/MIA) - US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to travel to Russia following his visit to Israel on Friday, according to US President Donald Trump.

"He's going to Russia, believe it or not," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday, without giving specific dates or further details of the trip.

Witkoff has previously met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials during visits to Moscow.

The announcement comes as Trump steps up pressure on the Kremlin. He sharply criticized Russia's actions in Ukraine, calling them "disgusting," and noted the high number of casualties on both sides.

Earlier this week, the US president shortened his ultimatum to Putin for a ceasefire in Ukraine from 50 days to 10 after which the US plans to impose sanctions targeting Russia's trading partners.

Among those affected would be countries such as India and China, which import Russian oil.

Trump said the US would proceed with the sanctions but acknowledged uncertainty over whether they would bother Putin or have any effect. He did not provide any further details on the planned measures.

On Thursday, Witkoff met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel. He is scheduled to visit the Gaza Strip on Friday, accompanied by US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, to assess the situation on the ground.

Photo: EPA archive