US envoy Witkoff heads to Moscow as Washington pushes for breakthrough in Russia–Ukraine talks

US President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff will head to Moscow on Monday, a US official said, as Washington intensifies efforts to halt Russia’s war against Ukraine. Witkoff is expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

His visit comes immediately after high-stakes discussions in Florida on Sunday among senior members of Trump’s administration and a Ukrainian delegation.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said after the meeting that the talks with the Ukrainian delegation in Florida were productive, though significant work remains in securing a peace agreement.

Trump notes progress but flags Kyiv scandal

Trump said on Sunday that there was a “good chance” of a Russia–Ukraine deal following the latest talks in Florida, while warning that a corruption scandal in Kyiv was complicating matters.

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He referred to an investigation that recently prompted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dismiss his chief of staff and top negotiator. “Ukraine’s got some difficult little problems,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. “But I think that there’s a good chance we can make a deal.”