United States President Donald Trump has stated that Vladimir Putin has no intention of attacking NATO territory, while confirming that the US administration is intensifying diplomatic efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"Putin has no intention of attacking NATO territory," Trump said during a statement in the Oval Office. Asked about the Russian president's stance and the risk of escalation against the Alliance countries, Trump said he knows the Kremlin leader well.
"I'm talking to Putin. I know him very well," the American president said.
At the same time, Trump announced that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are headed to Russia and Ukraine with a concrete proposal aimed at ending the conflict, which has entered its fifth year.
"Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner brought with them a proposal to end the war," Trump declared, praising his two envoys as skilled negotiators and saying they have previously helped resolve several conflicts.
Witkoff and Kushner are expected to first visit Moscow, where they will hold meetings with Russian officials, and then travel to Kiev for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy has confirmed that the two US representatives are expected to arrive in Ukraine on Sunday.
Trump has expressed optimism about the diplomatic mission, saying there is a good chance of reaching an agreement. However, details of the US proposal have not yet been made public, while negotiations take place at a time when Russian and Ukrainian attacks continue and tensions remain high.
Witkoff and Kushner's mission is seen as a new attempt by Washington to bring Moscow and Kiev back to the negotiating table, after months without significant diplomatic progress.
