UPDATE - Russia-Ukraine ceasefire may be achieved in weeks: US envoy

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By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) – US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Wednesday that a full ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine can be achieved within weeks.

“We are well on the way to getting a deal on Russia and Ukraine,” Witkoff said in a television program, adding that easing anti-Russian sanctions would follow a ceasefire agreement.

He also confirmed upcoming meetings on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia will take place on Monday and Tuesday.

Witkoff described the conversation between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin as “epic and outcome-oriented,” noting progress toward a deal to end the conflict. He also said a meeting between two leaders is "likely to happen."

Putin and Trump on Tuesday discussed normalizing bilateral ties, prospects for settling the Ukraine conflict, and the situation in the Middle East.

Trump said the conversation, which lasted for over two hours, was "very good and productive."

On reports of Russian attacks on Ukrainian targets late Tuesday, Witkoff said he learned that Putin, within 10 minutes of the call, ordered his forces not to attack any Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

“Any attacks that happened last night would have happened before that order was given," he suggested.

"I tend to believe that President Putin is operating in good faith," Witkoff added.

He also talked about broader US-Russia relations. The envoy said the relationship with Russia is "critical" to the US as it affects broader geopolitical issues such as China, Iran and the Middle East.

Witkoff added Trump and Putin coming together "is enormously beneficial for the world at large."