Egypt Daily News – U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was positive, expressing his expectation that an agreement between Ukraine and Russia will be signed in the coming weeks.
Here are the key points from Witkoff’s statements regarding his meeting with Putin and the ongoing negotiations on the Ukraine conflict:
- My meeting with the Russian president was positive and lasted three to four hours.
- The Russian and Ukrainian sides were far apart before my first visit to Russia, but now they are much closer.
- U.S. President Donald Trump is involved in every major decision regarding efforts to end the Ukraine crisis.
- Witkoff confirmed that they have narrowed the differences between Russia and Ukraine, and now we are sitting at the negotiation table.
- I am very optimistic that we will see tangible progress in ending the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
- I expect a phone call between Presidents Trump and Putin this week.
- Our negotiating teams will meet with Russian and Ukrainian representatives this week.
- President Putin is receptive to President Trump’s philosophy on ending the conflict.
- Everyone should focus on the progress made in resolving the Ukraine conflict since Trump’s inauguration.
- The situation is extremely complex, yet we are bridging the gap between Russia and Ukraine.
- We achieved some positive results in talks held in Saudi Arabia.
- We are holding discussions with Ukraine and other concerned parties, as well as with Russia, regarding the regions it has regained.
- I expect an agreement between Ukraine and Russia in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has approved the formation of a Ukrainian delegation for “engagement with international partners” to conduct peace talks.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his agreement to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. However, he emphasized that this proposal is acceptable only if it leads to lasting peace.
Putin’s aide, Yuri Ushakov, also confirmed that preparations for a summit between Putin and Trump are ongoing and that it will take place when necessary.
Last February, Presidents Putin and Trump held a phone call that lasted an hour and a half, during which they agreed to prepare for a bilateral meeting and to form negotiation teams to discuss Ukraine and normalization between the two countries.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the two leaders discussed prisoner exchanges and ways to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
President Donald Trump also announced that he spoke with Putin on Thursday, urging him to “show mercy to the Ukrainian forces completely encircled in the Kursk region” in southwestern Russia. He described his conversation with Putin as very constructive.
In response, President Putin expressed his willingness to accept Trump’s request but insisted that the Kyiv government must order its forces in the Kursk region to lay down their arms and surrender to the Russian army to ensure their safety.
