White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt at a news conference at the White House in Washington, DC on August 19, 2025. PHOTO: Mandel NGAN/AFP/Profimedia
The spokeswoman of the White House, Karoline Leavitt, assessed on Monday as “completely erroneous” the idea that US President Donald Trump and his administration are favoring Russia in the talks to end the conflict in Ukraine, notes AFP.
“The idea that the United States of America is not talking equally with both sides to end this war is completely wrong,” press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
Leavitt added that Trump is “hopeful and optimistic” that a plan can be found to end the conflict sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
At the same time, she claimed that the negotiations to end the conflict were productive, but that there are still some points of disagreement, notes Sky News.
Furthermore, the White House spokeswoman said there are currently no plans for a meeting between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week, after sources told Reuters that Zelenskiy could travel to the US this week to discuss sensitive aspects of the plan to end the war in Ukraine with Trump.
The revised plan should be presented to the Russians again, Leavitt said.
“There is a sense of urgency. The president wants to see this deal done and see an end to this war,” she said.
In addition, she pointed out that the US president exerted considerable pressure on both leaders.
