President Trump is likely to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the phone this week as the U.S. push to end the Russia–Ukraine war accelerates, U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff said Sunday.
Mr. Witkoff, who met with Mr. Putin in Moscow last week, told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the U.S. is in communication with all sides, including Russia, Ukraine and other European powers, about a potential cease-fire deal.
Mr. Witkoff said the U.S. and Russia have gotten closer in their positions in recent days, despite Mr. Putin’s reluctance to embrace the 30-day cease-fire agreed to by the U.S. and Ukraine after high-level delegations from those two nations met in Saudi Arabia last week.
“The two sides are today a lot closer,” Mr. Witkoff said, referring to the U.S. and Russia. “The two sides, we’ve narrowed the differences between them and now we’re sitting at the table.”
“I think President Trump is involved in every aspect and dimension of these discussions,” he said. “The president is getting updates in real time on everything that’s happening and he’s involved in every important decision here.”
“I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week,” he said of Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin.
Mr. Putin last week offered highly conditional support for the 30-day cease-fire backed by Ukraine and the U.S. Those conditions reportedly include restrictions on Ukraine’s military capabilities, the return of Russian territory in Kursk currently held by Ukrainian troops, and other points.
Mr. Witkoff would not discuss specifics on Sunday, including whether the U.S. is prepared to formally recognize Ukrainian land held by the invading Russian army as Russian territory.
“I think it’s a little bit premature to get into that now,” Mr. Witkoff said.
Other key U.S. officials have stressed that negotiations must be based in reality. White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz indicated Sunday that the notion of Ukraine recapturing every inch of land seized by Russia, including Crimea, which Russia forcibly annexed in 2014, may not be a realistic goal.
“We can talk about what’s right and wrong. And we also have to talk about the reality of the situation on the ground. And that’s what we are doing through diplomacy, through shuttle diplomacy, through proximity talks,” Mr. Waltz told ABC News’ “This Week.”
