Witkoff heads to Russia amid building frustration in the White House, with six months of diplomacy under Trump having failed to achieve a peace deal -- or even a ceasefire -- to end Moscow's full-scale invasion of its neighbor, which began in February 2022.

The U.S. envoy is set to discuss with Russia how to end the war President Vladimir Putin began, U.S. President Donald Trump said.

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 28, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis