Trump says plans to impose sanctions on Moscow, envoy Witkoff to arrive in Russia after Mideast visit

WASHINGTON. Aug 1 (Interfax) - U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to introduce sanctions against Russia over the situation in Ukraine.

"Yeah, we're going to put sanctions. I don't know that sanctions bother him. You know, they know about sanctions," Trump told journalists in the White House upon being asked what steps he is going to take after the Ukraine settlement deadline set by him expires.

Trump once again said he does not know whether such measures will have any effect on Russia's position.

Trump also said that his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will soon visit Russia.

"Yes, going to Israel and then he's going to Russia, believe it or not," Trump told journalists in the White House in reply to a question about Witkoff's plans.

Trump did not offer any other details.

It became known earlier that Witkoff plans to visit the Gaza Strip on Friday.

The Russian economy has developed immunity against sanctions, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said earlier amid Trump's statements on the possibility of new sanctions against Moscow.

"We have lived under a huge number of sanctions for a fairly long time, and our economy is functioning under a huge number of restrictions, therefore, of course, we have already developed certain immunity to that," he said on July 30, commenting on the possibility of new sanctions against Russia following the ten-day deadline to settle the Ukraine conflict given by Trump.

"We continue to register all statements that are coming from President Trump and other international representatives on that matter," Peskov said.

Responding to a follow-up question about the reaction of the Kremlin to the ultimatum de facto given by Trump on the time period for settling the Ukraine crisis, Peskov said, "I cannot say anything more now. We are taking note of all these statements."