White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Donald Trump believes in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. According to the U.S. president, Vladimir Putin aims for the same. Leavitt mentioned that Trump's optimism stems from a "productive conversation" that took place between Steve Witkoff and the Russian leader.

President Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff sat down with Putin in St. Petersburg amid the Trump administration’s efforts to spearhead a deal to end the three-year war.