In a high-stakes session on Friday, Steve Witkoff, envoy of U.S. President Donald Trump, sat down with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for a three-hour dialogue on ending the Ukraine crisis. Emerging from the talks, Trump declared that the two sides were "very close to a deal," despite lingering gaps on core issues.
The proposed U.S. peace plan, presented by Witkoff, reportedly calls for formal American recognition of Russia's control over Crimea and de facto acknowledgment of Russian hold in parts of southern and eastern Ukraine held by Russian forces. This contrasts sharply with a European-Ukrainian draft that defers territorial discussions until after a ceasefire and avoids recognition of any Russian gains.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, who briefed reporters after the meeting, described the talks as "constructive and very useful." He highlighted that the discussions not only tackled the Ukrainian crisis but also sought to align U.S. and Russian positions on broader international challenges.
So far, Russia and Ukraine have not engaged in direct talks since the conflict erupted in February 2022. Trump has called for a high-level summit between Kyiv and Moscow to iron out remaining differences, which span sanctions relief, security guarantees, and the future size of Ukraine's armed forces.
Though there was no immediate comment from Witkoff, the Trump administration has warned it may walk away from negotiations if real progress is not made. As world leaders watch closely, the next moves will determine if a diplomatic breakthrough is within reach or if talks will stall once again.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
