President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that nuclear submarines he ordered to counter Russia are now "in the region" ahead of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff’s visit.
Before boarding Air Force One in Allentown, Pa., to return to Washington, D.C., Trump was asked if the nuclear submarines had already been deployed to "face Russia."
Trump said on TRUTH Social on Friday that he ordered two nuclear submarines "to be positioned in the appropriate regions" in response to what he considered "highly provocative statements" from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about potential war with the U.S.
"I've already put out a statement and the answer is they are in the region, yeah, where they have to be," Trump told reporters at Lehigh Valley International Airport on Sunday.
Trump said that Witkoff is expected to travel to Russia on "Wednesday or Thursday." Russian state media reported Monday that Witkoff would arrive on Wednesday.
The visit comes ahead of the Friday deadline Trump set for Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine or face additional sanctions and tariffs.
Trump also has warned about potential secondary tariffs for the purchasers of Russian energy.
