Washington DC [US]: The White House confirmed that a “productive conversation” took place between the United States and Russia regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine, with discussions potentially paving the way for economic partnerships—but only if a ceasefire is achieved.
Speaking at Tuesday’s White House briefing, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized that no concrete agreements have been finalized, but expressed optimism about the tone and substance of the discussions.
“What I can tell you is, a productive conversation was had,” Leavitt said, referencing a recent meeting between Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Steve Witkoff said last night he believes that Russia wants to end this war, and the President believes that as well.”
She added,
“There is incentive for Russia to end this war, and perhaps that could be economic partnerships with the United States. But we need to see a ceasefire first, and the President and Envoy Witkoff made that very clear to the Russians.”
Trump Blames Biden, Pushes for Ceasefire
President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation, blaming the Biden administration for the war and suggesting that the conflict would not have occurred had he remained in office.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“The war between Russia and Ukraine is Biden’s war, not mine. I just got here, and for four years during my term, I had no problem preventing it from happening… I am working diligently to get the death and destruction to stop.”
He sharply criticized both President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying:
“They did a horrible job in allowing this travesty to begin… That is the past. Now we have to get it to stop—and fast.”
Trump Responds to Deadly Missile Strike in Sumy
Trump also reacted to the recent Russian missile strike on Sumy, which killed 34 people and injured over 100.
“I think it was terrible. I was told they made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing,” he said.
Witkoff Meets Putin: High-Stakes Diplomacy in Saint Petersburg
On Friday, Steve Witkoff met with President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg, a meeting that reportedly lasted more than four hours, according to Al Jazeera. State TV footage showed a cordial greeting between the two leaders in the Presidential Library.
The Kremlin described the meeting as focusing on “various aspects of the Ukrainian settlement,” while Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov hinted at the possibility of a future face-to-face meeting between Trump and Putin.
Potential for Economic Cooperation
Sources close to the negotiations have indicated that Russia is exploring joint investments with the US in areas such as the Arctic and rare earth minerals, should a ceasefire be reached. The talks, mediated in part by Witkoff, reflect a broader effort by the Trump administration to bring an end to the war and restore diplomatic and economic ties.