Trump to send Witkoff to Russia as Ukraine peace talks continue

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he will send special envoy Steve Witkoff to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin, aiming to resolve remaining differences in a peace framework for Ukraine.

Kyiv has expressed support for the core elements of the proposal, while the United States described the talks as making progress.

The initiative follows a recent Geneva meeting where U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators discussed Trump’s original 28-point plan, which faced criticism in Ukraine for appearing to favour Russian demands, including territorial concessions and military restrictions.

The revised framework reportedly addresses Ukrainian and European concerns, allowing Kyiv to retain its armed forces and maintain the option of NATO membership.

Speaking to an international coalition of 30 countries backing Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Kyiv is ready to move forward with the framework, though some sensitive issues remain. Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak described the security guarantees under discussion as “very solid.”

Trump acknowledged the difficulty of negotiating an end to the war but insisted that progress is being made. He said he intends to meet with both Putin and Zelenskyy “only when the deal is final or in its final stages.”

Russia has yet to receive the modified plan. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stressed that any agreement must reflect the understandings reached between Trump and Putin at their Alaska summit, warning that deviations could change the situation fundamentally.

The peace talks coincide with ongoing Russian attacks on Kyiv, which killed seven people and disrupted essential services, highlighting the urgent need for a resolution. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, have focused on providing security guarantees and planning for post-conflict reconstruction, including the potential use of frozen Russian assets.

U.S. officials have described remaining issues as delicate but solvable, with further discussions involving Ukraine, Russia, and the United States expected in the coming weeks.

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