Sources said that Russian officials see U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff’s upcoming visit to Russia as one last opportunity to reach a deal with Trump, though hopes for success are slim.
An “air truce” as a de-escalation measure could be on the table if Ukraine also agrees to suspend its drone strike campaign, one source said.
Meanwhile, additional sources noted that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin remains unwilling to agree to a full ceasefire in Ukraine since his troops continue to advance and Russia’s “war aims remain unchanged.”
“Trump needs some kind of a ‘gift,’ a concession from Russia,” the report quotes Sergei Markov, a Russian political consultant close to the Kremlin.
“An air truce could be such a gift.”
On July 14, Trump warned that he would impose 100% tariffs on countries buying Russian oil unless Moscow reached a broad peace deal with Ukraine. On July 29, Trump said Putin had 10 days to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.