US President Donald Trump is expected to speak with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week, an American envoy said Sunday, as Washington presses for Moscow to accept a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.
Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff, who met for several hours with Putin days ago, told CNN in a televised interview that he thinks "the two presidents are going to have a really good and positive discussion this week."
In a wide-ranging interview with CNN today, presidential envoy Steven Witkoff revealed significant diplomatic breakthroughs on multiple fronts, painting a picture of momentum in America's most challenging foreign policy arenas.
Witkoff announced what could be the most substantial progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict since its inception.
"Putin agreed to Trump's vision," Witkoff declared, suggesting a fundamental shift in the Kremlin's approach. "We have narrowed the differences between Russia and Ukraine," he added, emphasizing that "the chances of achieving peace are closer" than at any point in recent memory.
The breakthrough appears to have been catalyzed by intensive shuttle diplomacy, including what Witkoff described as "very positive results from the Saudi meeting on peace in Ukraine"—a surprising development signaling Saudi Arabia's emerging role as an unlikely mediator in European affairs.
Concrete next steps are already planned. "We will hold new meetings with the Russians and Ukrainians," Witkoff confirmed, adding that direct communication between the highest levels of American and Russian leadership is imminent. "I expect Trump and Putin to speak this week."
Hardball Tactics in Middle East Negotiations
While progress unfolds on the Eastern European front, Witkoff's tone sharpened considerably when discussing Hamas and ongoing hostage negotiations in Gaza.
"We have submitted a proposal to extend the ceasefire in Gaza in exchange for 5 live hostages," he revealed, before issuing what amounted to an ultimatum: "Hamas has a rapidly fading opportunity" and "must be rational and accept the proposal."
The envoy's language became particularly pointed when he connected recent U.S. military actions in Yemen with the Gaza situation. "Hamas should learn a lesson from what happened to the Houthis," Witkoff warned, referencing the White House confirmation that "several key Houthi leaders" had been eliminated during recent strikes.
This implicit threat represents a significant escalation in diplomatic rhetoric, suggesting that the administration is willing to employ both carrot and stick approaches across multiple conflict zones simultaneously.
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