Trump and Putin Anticipated to Discuss Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Progress
Dan Hoffman, a contributor to Fox News, joined 'Fox News Live' to talk about President Donald Trump's remarks on the potential for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. U.S. special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, mentioned on Sunday that President Trump is expected to have a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week.
During an interview on CNN’s "State of the Union," Witkoff was questioned about when a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine might be reached. Witkoff expressed optimism, aligning with the president's timeline of weeks, and noted the unexpected speed of progress in this complex situation. He emphasized that while many issues remain, the upcoming discussion between the two leaders is anticipated to be constructive.
Witkoff recently met with Putin in Moscow, following an agreement on potential ceasefire terms between U.S. and Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia. He described his lengthy meeting with Putin as positive and focused on solutions.
Witkoff highlighted that previous meetings had the two sides far apart, but recent discussions, including those led by national security advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Saudi Arabia, have brought them closer. Witkoff characterized his talks with Putin as equally positive, noting significant progress in narrowing differences.
This marks Witkoff's second meeting with Putin in a month, with the first resulting in the release of U.S. prisoner Marc Fogel. Witkoff briefed key U.S. officials, including Trump and Vice President JD Vance, shortly after his recent meeting with Putin.
Witkoff emphasized Trump's active involvement in all aspects of the discussions, receiving real-time updates and participating in crucial decisions. A call between Trump and Putin is expected this week, with ongoing dialogues with Ukraine and European stakeholders regarding the ceasefire terms.
Witkoff recently traveled from Doha, Qatar, where he facilitated negotiations between Israel and Hamas, to Moscow for these discussions.