White House representative Steve Witkoff is set for a mission to Russia on Wednesday, just two days before President Donald Trump’s August 8th deadline for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or face severe sanctions.
This expedited deadline, which Trump shortened by almost a month after initially giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day deadline in mid-July, has barely reduced the Kremlin’s aggressive actions in Ukraine.
If a peace agreement is not achieved by Friday, one of Russia’s key exports will become the main focus, as the U.S. plans to impose 100% sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil, aiming to cut off the economic support of Russia’s military ventures.
Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, during an executive order signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House on February 3, 2025. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
On Monday, Randhir Jaiswal, a spokesperson for India’s foreign ministry, stated that after Russia’s invasion and subsequent Western resistance to Russian oil, the U.S. allegedly urged India to import Russian gas to help stabilize the global energy markets.
But it is not just financial aid that India is accused of being involved in when it comes to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Ukraine on Tuesday said it had found “Indian-made components in Russian attack drones – including the Shahed/Geran models.”
“Russia should not have access to foreign parts that enable its weaponry and the resulting deaths of Ukrainians,” Andriy Yermak, presidential chief of staff, expressed on X.
These drones have infamously been used to not only hit military points along the front lines in Ukraine, but have routinely targeted Ukrainian civilians, including in a series of overnight strikes.
“Last night, the Russians launched a ballistic missile and nearly 50 UAVs against Ukraine, most of them Russian-Iranian ‘shaheds,'” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday. “Many drones were shot down by our defenders, but unfortunately, there were hits.”
Zelenskyy confirmed that one person was killed and 10 were injured, including two children, after 25 shahed drones pounded the city of Lozova in the Kharkiv region.
The Zaporizhzhia, Odesa and Sumy regions were also struck, and two others were apparently injured.
Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on Oct. 22, 2024. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters)
“Once again, the Russian army is hunting civilians in an attempt to terrorize frontline cities and communities,” Zelenskyy said.
Despite concerns that sanctions could have little effect on Putin’s war ambitions, Zelenskyy argued they could “contribute” to ending the war.
“The world now sees that sanctions against Russia, and secondary sanctions against all those who help it profiteer from oil, can work if they are strong enough,” he said. “Therefore, pressure must be increased, and this will undoubtedly contribute to peace.”
Fox News Digital could not immediately reach the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., or Witkoff’s team for comment.
