Trump team says Ukraine peace talks moving 'painfully slowly'

US President Donald Trump's administration says negotiations to end the war in Ukraine are progressing "painfully slowly," according to US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker, as reported by Voice of America. Whitaker stated that Trump continues working to halt the conflict, with the primary priority being to stop the loss of life, achieve a ceasefire, and then negotiate a final settlement and peace agreement. He noted that even a short-term truce would be a positive step. The US envoy added that the parties are approaching a resolution, though the process is moving "agonizingly slowly." Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed Russia and the US agreed to resume trilateral contacts, reiterating that Russians and Ukrainians are "one people."