Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks throughout a joint press convention along with his French counterpart on the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, Monday. Zelensky meets French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, searching for to shore up European assist as U.S. President expressed optimism of a deal to finish Russia’s battle in Ukraine. AFP-Yonhap
WASHINGTON — The White Home mentioned Monday it was “very optimistic” of a deal being reached to finish the Russia-Ukraine battle, as U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff heads to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin.
“I feel the administration feels very optimistic,” White Home Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt instructed reporters.
She mentioned that President Donald Trump and his workforce “have been working so laborious on this effort and so they all actually wish to see this battle come to an finish.”
“Simply yesterday… that they had superb talks with the Ukrainians in Florida and now after all Particular Envoy Witkoff is on his strategy to Russia.”
Witkoff, a enterprise pal of Trump who has grow to be his roving world fixer, met Ukrainian negotiators on Sunday alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio and once more on Monday.
The Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov mentioned the talks “achieved important progress” however that some points remained unresolved.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, whereas attempting fastidiously to not anger Trump, has refused U.S.-backed requires Ukraine to cede hard-fought territory that Russia has not been in a position to seize.
A U.S. plan, additionally offered to the Ukrainians every week earlier in Geneva with out their enter, would have seen Kyiv withdraw from its japanese Donetsk area and america de facto acknowledge the Donetsk, Crimea and Lugansk areas as Russian.
America in flip would provide some type of ensures to Ukraine, however the steps would cease in need of Kyiv’s ambition to hitch NATO, the transatlantic alliance that considers an assault on one an assault on all.
Washington pared again the unique plan following criticism from Kyiv and Europe, however the present contents stay unclear.
Witkoff has confronted criticism prior to now for his travels to Moscow, the place he has entered talks with out the same old skilled employees that may be routine for U.S. diplomacy with the veteran Russian chief.
The envoy will likely be joined in Russia by Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law who has helped spearhead his diplomacy on the Center East.
As Witkoff heads to Russia, Zelensky has been searching for assist from European allies.
French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned Monday with Zelensky that any plan to finish the battle can solely be finalized with the involvement of Ukraine and European powers.
Zelensky for his half warned to not let Russia “understand something it may take into account as a reward for this battle.”
NATO overseas ministers can even meet this week in Brussels for an annual assembly however U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is skipping the talks, as an alternative sending his deputy Christopher Landau.
