WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Anticipation is building as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are slated to converse later this week, aiming to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Steve Witkoff, a special envoy for Trump, suggested this during a recent media appearance.
This upcoming dialogue would mark their second formal conversation since President Trump embarked on his second term at the start of this year. Their initial exchange in February saw an agreement to engage in high-level discussions concerning the resolution of the Ukrainian war. According to Witkoff, the upcoming call has the potential to be “really good and positive,” as he expressed on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday.
In his visit to Russia this week, Witkoff engaged in negotiations with Putin to bring an end to the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine. He indicated strong optimism about reaching an agreement soon. “The President refers to the timeline as weeks, and I align with that viewpoint. There are grounds for real hopefulness regarding imminent progress,” Witkoff relayed.
Appearing later on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Witkoff touched on the anticipated Putin-Trump discussion, although he withheld details concerning potential outcomes. He mentioned the establishment of a rapport during Trump’s initial term, fostering expectations of a “very positive and constructive” interaction this week.
The precedent for these communications was set when Trump first contacted Putin following Witkoff’s success in securing the release of Marc Fogel, an American teacher previously detained in Russia. Trump characterized their previous discussion as “lengthy and highly productive.”
Witkoff refrained from confirming if the outcome of the impending call would lead to the implementation of a proposed 30-day ceasefire, as suggested by the U.S. The Ukrainian administration has signaled agreement, while Putin has expressed conditional support pending finer details. “Both President Trump and President Putin are the foremost decision-makers for their respective nations,” Witkoff emphasized, noting the potential for positive dialogue as indicative of forward momentum.
Despite this, Witkoff downplayed a recent assessment from French President Emmanuel Macron, which conveyed skepticism about Russia’s intentions and noted increased warfare ahead of negotiations. Unfamiliar with Macron’s remarks, Witkoff criticized the formation of opinions without direct experience, stating, “I know the conversation I was part of and the body language I observed with President Putin. There was a concerted, prolonged effort to address the situation on the ground.”
As these developments unfold, the international community watches closely, hoping for a path that leads to peace and stability in the region.
