A resolution to the Ukraine conflict is within reach, according to the White House, with President Donald Trump gearing up for a critical call with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt painted an optimistic picture on Monday, likening the negotiations to a high-stakes football game. “We’re at the 10-yard line of peace, closer than ever to sealing a deal. And as you all know, the president is determined to make it happen,” she told reporters.
Trump has signaled that Tuesday’s call with Putin will focus on territorial disputes and the division of assets, alongside a proposed 30-day ceasefire. Meanwhile, his top envoy, Steve Witkoff, fresh from Moscow, emphasized that both sides are inching toward common ground. “The gaps have narrowed,” Witkoff told CNN’s Jake Tapper, underscoring the progress made in talks between the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine.
While Ukraine has agreed to a temporary ceasefire, it refuses to relinquish claims over Russian-controlled territories, including Crimea. Putin, on the other hand, has expressed conditional support for the U.S.-brokered truce, warning that any deal must address the root causes of the conflict rather than simply buy time for Kiev to regroup militarily.
With tensions still simmering, all eyes are now on Trump’s next move. Will this be the breakthrough moment, or just another round of diplomatic brinkmanship?
