WASHINGTON

US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Tuesday that peace in Ukraine is closer than ever as a new round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks is expected Thursday in Istanbul.

"From where I sit right now, I think we are as close as we've ever been to the war ending and the fighting to stop," Whitaker told reporters during an online briefing. "Hopefully, with God’s help, we’ll get a deal done."

The diplomatic push is the latest to end the war that began in early 2022. The direct talks with Ukraine were proposed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday and have received support from Türkiye and the US, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirming his attendance.

Putin has yet to confirm his participation, and Trump said he may travel to Istanbul if he thought it would be helpful.

US envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg and Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff are reportedly expected to take part in the talks, regardless if Trump attends.

"President Trump is laser-focused on ending the slaughter and the killing that is happening in Ukraine from Russia’s invasion," Whitaker said.

"Nobody is probably going to be happy with any deal that both sides agree to … but we all agree that peace is much better than war," he said. "We have to see how this plays out on Thursday and just take it a step at a time. So, it's just hard to predict what happens after that."

NATO meeting in Türkiye

Whitaker emphasized the Trump administration’s push for a 5% of GDP defense spending target amid growing global threats, ahead of an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Antalya, Türkiye.

The US is demanding NATO allies adopt a new 5% defense investment goal, which Whitaker described as essential to addressing evolving security challenges.

"Five percent is not just a number. It is a necessity for our security," he said, stressing the need for increased capabilities to counter "conventional, nuclear, and even hybrid threats."

"That level of investment is necessary to ensure allies have the capabilities to deter and defend the alliance and contribute to our collective defense," he said.

The US spends 3.38% of its GDP on defense -- accounting for two-thirds of total NATO spending -- while Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Greece spend above 3%, and eight members, such as Italy and Belgium, fall short of the existing 2% target, according to NATO figures.