The Kremlin is considering options for concessions to U.S. President Donald Trump that could include a limited air ceasefire with Ukraine to try to stave off the threat of secondary sanctions. But Russia remains determined to continue its war, Bloomberg sources told Bloomberg.

Officials acknowledge that U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Russia this week offers a late opportunity for a deal with Trump, even if expectations of success are low, people familiar with the situation told the agency.

A pause in airstrikes involving drones and missiles as a gesture of de-escalation could be one potential proposal, provided that Ukraine also signs on.

However, President Vladimir Putin will not agree to a general ceasefire in Ukraine as his forces continue their steady, incremental advances on the battlefield and Russia’s military goals remain unchanged. It is unclear whether any offer of restraint would include conditions that would make it practically unacceptable to Kiev and its allies, Bloomberg notes, quoted by BNR.

"We consider such meetings very important, but we do not comment on them in advance," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in response to a request for comment on Russian proposals for Wikthoff's expected visit.

Trump said Witkoff was expected to visit Russia as early as Wednesday for the fifth time this year, and the Kremlin said the US special representative could meet with Putin.

The US president is threatening to impose heavy tariffs from Friday, August 8, on countries including China and India that buy Russian oil and other goods, in an attempt to increase pressure on Putin to end the war, now in its fourth year.

"Trump needs some kind of 'gift', a concession from Russia. An air ceasefire could be such a gift," said Sergei Markov, a Moscow-based political consultant close to the Kremlin.

Trump stepped up his criticism of India on Tuesday, saying he would raise tariffs on Indian exports to the United States"very significantly" in the next 24 hours to punish New Delhi for buying Russian oil and "feeding the war machine." India called the move "unjustified."

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko raised the issue of an "air truce" during his meeting with Putin a few days ago, but the Russian leader did not comment on it.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had"productive" phone calls with Trump on Tuesday, including about sanctions against Russia. The US president was"fully briefed" about Russian strikes on Kyiv and other cities and communities, Zelensky said in a social media post.