A special envoy of US President Donald Trump, Steve Witkoff, has commented on his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in an interview with CNN. Witkoff described the conversation as “solution-oriented” and stated that Trump was well-versed in every aspect and dimension of their discussions.
Regarding a potential peace solution for the Ukraine conflict, Witkoff expressed optimism, saying, “I think we’re going to see real progress.” When asked about the timeframe for an agreement, he replied, “The President is using a timeframe of weeks and I agree with him.”
A phone call between Trump and Putin is likely to take place in the coming week, according to the special envoy. Witkoff noted that the two sides had previously been far apart, but now, “both sides are much closer to each other.”
President Trump aims to put an end to the Ukraine crisis, Witkoff said, adding that Moscow and Kiev share the same goal. He emphasized that there are details that need to be discussed at the negotiating table and “I believe all sides are determined to do so.”
Earlier in the week, Washington and Kiev proposed a 30-day ceasefire and the US special envoy conveyed the details of the proposal to Putin on Thursday. Putin stated that Moscow is open to the idea, but emphasized that many questions still need to be addressed, including the fate of Ukrainian troops currently surrounded by Russian forces in the Kursk region.