Special Mission for Peace Envoy Steve Witkoff expressed cautious optimism on Sunday, saying recent discussions showed signs of moderation that could help pave the way toward a final peace agreement.

“We began to see some moderation in the way they’re thinking about getting to a final peace deal. And so, we feel that that’s encouraging,” Witkoff said.

He added that U.S. officials quickly briefed European partners following the talks. “We briefed the Europeans immediately after... I think everybody agreed that we had made progress,” Witkoff noted.

The envoy’s remarks come amid intensified diplomatic efforts by the Trump administration to end the war in Ukraine, with President Donald Trump recently meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska and preparing for follow-up discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington.

While no breakthrough has yet been achieved, Witkoff’s comments suggest that momentum may be building behind the scenes. Analysts say U.S. officials are trying to balance cautious optimism with the reality that deep divisions remain between Moscow and Kyiv.

For now, Witkoff insists the talks mark a step forward: “It’s progress, and in a situation like this, even incremental progress matters.”