WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump confirmed on Aug 3 that his special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Russia next week, ahead of a looming US sanctions deadline and escalating tensions with Moscow.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump also said that two nuclear submarines he deployed following an online row with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev were now “in the region”.

Mr Trump has not said whether he meant nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines. He also did not elaborate on the exact deployment locations, which are kept secret by the US military.

The nuclear sabre-rattling came against the backdrop of a deadline set by Mr Trump at the end of next week for Russia to take steps to ending the Ukraine war or face unspecified new sanctions.

The Republican leader said Mr Witkoff would visit “I think next week, Wednesday or Thursday”.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Mr Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Mr Trump’s efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.

When reporters asked what Mr Witkoff’s message would be to Moscow, and if there was anything Russia could do to avoid the sanctions, Mr Trump replied: “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.”

Mr Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean “secondary tariffs” targeting Russia’s remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.

Despite the pressure from Washington, Russia’s onslaught against its pro-Western neighbour continues to unfold.

Mr Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said on Aug 1 that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly 3½ year invasion were “unchanged.”

Those demands include that Ukraine abandon territory and end ambitions to join Nato.