US envoy to NATO: Ukraine's strikes deep into Russia are bringing peace talks closer

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said in an interview with Fox News that Ukraine's long-range strikes deep into Russian territory are helping bring Moscow and Kyiv closer to negotiations to end the war.

According to Whitaker, by continuing to deliver powerful strikes against Russia, Ukraine is, in his view, contributing to bringing the two sides closer together. However, he cautioned that the parties remain "very far apart" on key issues and stressed that a resolution will not be achieved through military action.

Diplomacy, not the battlefield

Whitaker said the conflict will not be resolved on the battlefield, but only through diplomacy and negotiations. That, he said, is why President Donald Trump and his team continue talks with both sides, seeking common ground between their positions to bring them closer.

The ambassador also noted that a peace agreement is impossible unless Russian leader Vladimir Putin is willing to compromise. Still, he expressed confidence that if a deal is achievable at all, Trump — a businessman and dealmaker — will secure it.

Background

Previously, President Trump said he had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to slow down strikes on Russian oil refineries, and that Zelensky had reportedly agreed. On September 22, Zelensky said that during closed-door talks with Trump, there had been no attempt to unilaterally force Kyiv to halt attacks on refineries and similar targets. Earlier, on September 13, Trump had already called on Zelensky to stop strikes on Russian diesel fuel facilities, saying they were causing a fuel shortage.