U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly three hours this week. Following the meeting, Witkoff said there are “early signs of a possible thaw” in the ongoing Ukraine crisis. While details remain limited, the tone from both sides appeared slightly more open compared to past talks.

Despite this hint of progress, former U.S. President Donald Trump—currently seeking re-election—has made it clear that he expects a ceasefire to be reached by a set deadline. Trump has consistently pushed for a firm timeline, calling the war “unnecessary” and claiming that if re-elected, he would end it “within 24 hours.”

However, experts caution that real peace will take more than just deadlines. There are still deep disagreements over territory, security guarantees, and the future of NATO’s presence in Eastern Europe.

Still, for the millions affected by the war, any sign of dialogue is better than none. With ongoing diplomacy and pressure from global powers, some observers are cautiously hopeful.

Whether the talks will lead to a full ceasefire or just another round of stalled negotiations remains to be seen—but for now, the world is watching closely.