Trump envoy Witkoff heading to Russia for second time, source says

U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is set to travel to Russia later this week for a second meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The confirmation of this visit comes after Witkoff’s initial three-hour meeting with Putin in mid-February, where he worked to secure the release of detained American Marc Fogel. This meeting had sparked discussions of a potential prisoner swap between the two countries.

Currently, Witkoff, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, is in Saudi Arabia engaging in talks with a senior Ukrainian delegation to discuss the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict. The Ukrainian delegation includes key figures such as Andriy Yermak, Andrii Sybiha, Pavlo Palisa, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who survived a poisoning attack following peace talks with Russia.

Rubio emphasized the importance of establishing Ukraine’s intentions and willingness to make difficult decisions, such as relinquishing seized territories, in order to achieve peace. The discussions in Saudi Arabia are aimed at gauging Kyiv’s commitment to reaching a peaceful resolution to the three-year conflict.

While mineral deals are a topic of discussion, Rubio clarified that it is not the primary agenda for the meetings. The focus remains on fostering dialogue and understanding between the parties involved.

The visit to Russia and the ongoing talks in Saudi Arabia mark significant diplomatic efforts to address the conflict in Ukraine and enhance relations between the involved nations. The international community is closely monitoring these developments as they hold the potential for significant progress towards peace and stability in the region.

The article was written by Greg Norman for Fox News Digital.