U.S. NATO Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said Ukrainian strikes inside Russia are helping to push Moscow and Kyiv closer to negotiations, while cautioning that major differences remain on key issues. He argued that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy, not battlefield gains, and noted that progress depends on political compromises from both sides. President Trump reiterated contested casualty figures and was described by Whitaker as a potential dealmaker. Independent estimates, including CSIS, suggest significant Russian military losses since 2022.
Ukrainian Strikes Inside Russia Could Nudge Putin Toward Talks, U.S. NATO Envoy Says
A composite image shows Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (R) as peace talks continue.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said on Saturday that Ukrainian strikes inside Russian territory are helping to nudge Moscow and Kyiv closer to the negotiating table, even as significant gaps remain over the terms of any peace.
Speaking on "The Big Weekend Show," Whitaker stressed that any settlement will require cooperation from both sides and warned that a military solution alone will not resolve the conflict.
"This conflict is not going to be resolved on the battlefield. It's only going to [be resolved] through diplomacy and negotiation," Whitaker said.
He cautioned that the two capitals remain "a long way apart" on key issues and said progress depends on political compromises from both leaders and constructive engagement by intermediaries.
Matthew Whitaker, U.S. ambassador to NATO, is seen following an interview at the Bled Strategic Forum in Bled, Slovenia, on Sept. 2, 2025.
Whitaker added that President Donald Trump and his team are actively engaging both Moscow and Kyiv to identify potential common ground. He also warned that a deal would be "impossible" if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to compromise, while expressing confidence in Mr. Trump's negotiating style: "If there's a deal to be made, President Trump is a businessman, he's a dealmaker, and I think he'll make the deal."
Trump on the White House lawn repeated casualty figures he attributed to recent fighting — claiming 25,000 deaths last month and 32,000 the month before.
Those numbers have not been independently verified in full and differ from other public estimates. Independent analysts cited in reporting note that Russia's military losses since its 2022 invasion could be substantial; the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS) has referenced figures up to about 450,000, though such estimates vary by source and methodology.
A composite image circulated in the media showed Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid ongoing discussion of peace initiatives. Whitaker was photographed after an interview at the Bled Strategic Forum in Slovenia on Sept. 2, 2025, where international officials discussed possible diplomatic paths forward.
Whitaker emphasized that durable progress will require diplomacy to address territorial, security and political questions that cannot be settled solely on the battlefield.
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