Rubio says Trump-Putin call possible in coming days

WASHINGTON

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that President Donald Trump could speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming days, though no such call is currently scheduled.

“It could happen over the next couple of days, it could happen, but none is scheduled at this time,” Rubio said in an interview with FOX Business when asked whether Trump would be on the phone with Putin in the next hours.

He added that recent talks between Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian officials have helped clarify Moscow’s demands, saying it “may not be what Ukraine can accept, but at least it gives us an outline to work off of.”

He said a Trump-Putin meeting would be needed to end the conflict.

“I think it'll take that kind of meeting to bring this thing to an end,” he said.

Trump said earlier Wednesday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff had a "highly productive" meeting with Putin.

"Great progress was made!" he wrote on his Truth Social platform.

"Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come," he added.

Witkoff arrived in Moscow earlier Wednesday in his fifth visit to Russia since the start of the year. He last met Putin on April 25.

The visit came two days before Trump's 10-day deadline for Russia to reach a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.