US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to hold a crucial phone call in the coming days to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, according to US envoy Steve Witkoff. The anticipated discussion is part of ongoing diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the three-year war that began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Witkoff, who met with Putin in Moscow on Thursday, confirmed in an interview with CNN that a call between the two leaders is expected this week. “We’re also continuing to engage and have conversations with the Ukrainians,” he said, emphasizing that the US is actively advising Ukraine on the negotiations.
Last week, the US and Ukraine put forward a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, which Russia acknowledged but countered with a list of stringent conditions. Despite these challenges, Witkoff expressed optimism, stating, “I think the two presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week.”
As part of the diplomatic push, US negotiators are scheduled to meet with both Ukrainian and Russian counterparts over the coming week. Witkoff believes progress is imminent, saying, “I am really hopeful we are going to see some progress here.”
Trump, who had promised during his election campaign to end the war on “day one” of his administration, has taken a hands-on approach to the negotiations. Less than a month into his presidency, he engaged in a 90-minute call with Putin focused on initiating peace talks.
The status of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories remains a contentious issue in the negotiations. When pressed about how these areas would be handled in a potential deal, Witkoff declined to comment, acknowledging the complexity of the situation. Currently, Russia controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Trump has remained actively involved in the diplomatic process. Witkoff detailed how, within minutes of concluding his meeting with Putin, he returned to the US embassy to brief Trump, along with Vice-President JD Vance, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. “The president is getting updates in real time on everything that’s happening and he’s involved in every important decision here,” Witkoff stated.
With high-level negotiations ongoing, all eyes are on the upcoming call between Trump and Putin to see whether it will mark a breakthrough in efforts to end the war.
