Special envoy of former U.S. President Donald Trump, Stephen Witkoff, has signaled a significant development in efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine. In his appearance on Fox News, he stated that a personal meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin is not out of the question in the near future. According to him, U.S. efforts could lead to such a meeting even within the next three weeks.
Witkoff, along with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, are reportedly in an "optimistic mood." They claim that offers have been extended to both sides, and these offers could bring the positions closer in the coming weeks, paving the way for meetings at the level of heads of state.
Furthermore, Witkoff did not rule out another possible scenario: if a real opportunity for a peace agreement arises, a three-way meeting involving Zelenskyy, Putin, and Trump could take place. However, he emphasized that Trump would only participate in such a summit if he were confident that "the job will be brought to completion and the best result achieved."
Witkoff also responded to criticism regarding his personal meetings with Putin. He believes that it is impossible to reach an agreement without understanding the opposite side's position: it is necessary to clearly know the motivation, goals, and "red lines." Witkoff added that during meetings with Putin, the Russian leader openly stated his position.
The Ukrainian position is well-known: Zelenskyy has repeatedly stated his readiness to meet personally with Putin, but has rejected invitations to Moscow and offered a meeting in Kyiv. It has also been reported that he has instructed his negotiating team to raise the issue of a meeting at the level of heads of state in Geneva.
Overall, Washington is hopeful for "good news in the coming weeks." However, the situation is not resolved by simple statements: there are still many questions, conditions, and, most importantly, the real readiness of the parties ahead. Therefore, if a summit does take place, it will likely be against a backdrop of prolonged negotiations, tough disagreements, and difficult decisions.
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