U.S. sees President Vladimir Putin as a "great competitor" and "adversary" as it works to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff explained Sunday to CNN’s Jake Tapper how President Donald Trump is working to end the Ukraine-Russia war after Tapper questioned Russia’s view of the president.

On Meet the Press, Kristen Welker challenged Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin: “You yourself said when Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, ‘I strongly condemn the unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine.’ . . . Do you still believe this was an unjustified and unprovoked attack on Ukraine by Russia?”

Before Trump returned to the White House, Witkoff was his political adviser, fundraiser and golfing buddy. In testimony at Trump’s 2023 New York civil fraud trial, Witkoff said the pair’s friendship began in 1986 when he bought Trump a sandwich at a deli after Trump forgot his wallet.