White House: Trump administration is very optimistic on Ukraine talks

The White House said on Monday it is increasingly optimistic about reaching a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine, as President Donald Trump’s special envoy travels to Moscow following talks with Ukrainian officials in Florida.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the administration believes momentum is building, with negotiations continuing through what she described as a form of “shuttle diplomacy” between Kyiv and Moscow.

“The administration feels very optimistic,” Leavitt said.

“Just yesterday … they had very good talks with the Ukrainians in Florida. And now, of course, Special Envoy Witkoff is on his way to Russia. This is the shuttle diplomacy you’ve seen from this administration — where we speak equally with both sides.”

Leavitt added that Trump’s foreign policy team, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Vice President J.D. Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Envoy Steve Witkoff, has been “working hard” to refine a written framework presented to both sides in recent weeks.

“We’ve put points on paper. Those points have been very much refined,” she said, but declined to discuss details, saying negotiators must be allowed to continue their work.

Witkoff is scheduled to meet Russian officials this week in Moscow as part of ongoing discussions over proposed revisions to the U.S. peace plan.

The remarks come as pressure builds from European leaders and Kyiv for guarantees that any settlement respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and security needs.

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