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

U.S. envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff is heading to Russia aboriginal this week, a root acquainted with the substance told Fox News. 

The confirmation comes aft media reports said Witkoff is readying to conscionable with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a 2nd time. 

Witkoff antecedently met Putin for 3 hours successful mid-February during a travel to Moscow to unafraid the merchandise of detained American Marc Fogel, according to Axios. 

The Kremlin past suggested astir that clip that different U.S.-Russia captive swap could beryllium coming. 

UKRAINE LAUNCHES BIGGEST DRONE ATTACK ON MOSCOW, KILLING 2, AS US TALKS BEGIN 

Steve Witkoff, White House peculiar envoy for the Middle East, center, accompanied by White House property caput Karoline Leavitt, speaks with reporters astatine the White House successful Washington connected Thursday, March 6. (AP/Ben Curtis)

Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz are presently successful Saudi Arabia gathering a elder Ukrainian delegation for talks astir ending the Ukraine-Russia war. 

The Ukrainian delegation successful Saudi Arabia was expected to see Andriy Yermak, caput of the statesmanlike office, Andrii Sybiha, curate of overseas affairs, Pavlo Palisa, colonel of equipped forces of Ukraine and an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arsenic good arsenic Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who was not lone progressive successful archetypal talks with Russia pursuing its February 2022 invasion, but who besides survived a poisoning onslaught aft a bid gathering successful March that year.  

HAMAS’ TREATMENT OF HOSTAGES ‘INTOLERABLE,’ TRUMP ENVOY SAYS 

President Donald Trump greets erstwhile detainee Marc Fogel arsenic helium arrives astatine the White House successful Washington, D.C., connected Feb. 11. (Ting Shen/AFP via Getty Images)

Rubio told reporters Monday that "The important constituent successful this gathering is to found intelligibly their intentions, their desire, arsenic they've said publically now, galore times, to scope a constituent wherever bid is possible," adding that helium volition request to beryllium assured that Kyiv is prepared to marque immoderate hard decisions, similar giving up territory seized by Russia, successful bid to extremity the three-year war.  

Steve Witkoff, US peculiar envoy to the Middle East, during an enforcement bid signing ceremonial successful the Oval Office of the White House successful Washington, DC, US, connected Monday, Feb. 3. (Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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"I wouldn't prejudge time astir whether oregon not we person a minerals deal," Rubio besides said connected committee a formation to Saudi Arabia. "It's an important topic, but it's not the main taxable connected the agenda. 

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.