Washington, D.C. – A high-level American delegation is set to travel to Moscow to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, according to former U.S. President Donald Trump. The announcement comes after Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire following crucial negotiations with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia earlier this week.
Speaking at the White House on Wednesday, Trump stated that he had received “positive messages” regarding the ceasefire but cautioned that optimism alone was not enough to resolve the ongoing war.
“This is a very serious situation,” he said, without disclosing which officials would be making the trip to Moscow.
However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that National Security Secretary Mike Waltz had spoken with his Russian counterpart, and that U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would be heading to Moscow for negotiations.
“We urge the Russians to sign on to this plan. This is the closest we have been to peace in this war,” Leavitt told reporters.
The move follows a high-profile meeting in Jeddah between American and Ukrainian officials, during which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signaled his willingness to support a temporary ceasefire.
“It is now up to the U.S. to convince Russia to agree to this positive proposal,” Zelensky stated after the meeting. The Kremlin has confirmed it is reviewing the terms of the ceasefire and that further discussions will take place through diplomatic channels.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged that details of the proposal would be examined over the coming days, with a possible phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin under consideration.
Diplomatic Push Amid Continued Fighting
Despite diplomatic efforts, intense fighting continues in Ukraine. Overnight, Russian drones and missiles targeted multiple locations, including Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyy Rih, as well as Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv.
Reports also indicate ongoing clashes in Russia’s Kursk region, parts of which have been under Ukrainian control since an incursion last year.
In a show of defiance, President Putin visited a Russian military command post in Kursk on Wednesday, marking his first trip to the region since Ukrainian forces crossed the border in August 2023.
Footage released by the Kremlin showed Putin alongside Russia’s top military commander, Valery Gerasimov, both wearing combat gear. According to Russian media, Putin has ordered his military to “fully liberate” the region.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military chief Oleksandr Syrsky acknowledged the difficulties on the battlefield, stating that some Ukrainian troops had begun withdrawing from certain positions in Kursk. “In the most difficult situation, my priority has been and remains saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers,” he wrote on Telegram.
Trump’s Financial Leverage Over Russia
Trump hinted that he may use financial pressure to push Russia into accepting the ceasefire. “I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia,” he said, though he emphasized that his goal is peace rather than economic punishment.
The meeting in Jeddah marked the first official engagement between U.S. and Ukrainian officials since a February 28 summit, during which tensions between Trump, Zelensky, and Vice President JD Vance resulted in a temporary halt to U.S. military aid and intelligence sharing. That pause has since been lifted following the latest negotiations.
As talks progress, all eyes will be on Moscow to see whether Russia will accept the 30-day ceasefire proposal or push for further concessions. With the war still raging, the coming days could be crucial in determining the path toward a potential peace settlement.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members