U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, alongside President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner. This meeting, taking place on Thursday, aims to address the ongoing war in Ukraine, which has persisted for nearly four years. Witkoff emphasized to CNBC that significant progress has been achieved over the past six to eight weeks, instilling a sense of optimism about the potential for a peace agreement. “I have a sense that everybody wants peace there, that it’s time,” he stated, hinting at a collaborative spirit among key players.
It appears that both Russia and Ukraine are eager for an agreement. In Davos, where world leaders have gathered for the World Economic Forum, President Trump commented, “I think Russia wants to make a deal, I think Ukraine wants to make a deal. I think I can say we are relatively close.” This sentiment reflects an encouraging climate for discussions aimed at concluding the conflict.
This will not be the first dialogue between Witkoff, Kushner, and Putin; they previously spent five hours in talks last December. However, those discussions yielded little in terms of tangible results. Yet, the recent talks in Davos have been described as “very positive” and “constructive,” indicating that there might be a shift in momentum. Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, noted that “Dialogue is constructive and more and more people understand the fairness of the Russian position.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also expressed optimism after meeting with Witkoff and Kushner recently, thanking them for their constructive approach. “We are truly working 24/7 to bring closer the end of this brutal Russian war against Ukraine,” he shared on X. His commitment highlights the urgency and intensity with which the Ukrainian leadership is pursuing peace.
As the war reaches its four-year mark on February 24, the complexities of this conflict remain. Trump has attributed blame to both Putin and Zelenskyy for the war’s continuation, suggesting that cooperation from either party may be lacking. Territory disputes have repeatedly undermined discussions, with Zelenskyy firmly opposing land concessions. Despite this, Witkoff mentioned to CNBC that “land deals” are still under consideration, suggesting that negotiators are open to discussions about contentious issues.
Over the past year, the Trump administration has actively sought to broker a peace agreement between these two nations. Although the meetings between Trump, Zelenskyy, and Putin have not yet led to significant breakthroughs, the ongoing dialogue may yet pave the way for a resolution. The landscape of international relations is precarious, with the desire for peace battling against deeply entrenched positions on key issues.
As these talks unfold, the world will be watching closely to see whether this new wave of dialogue can finally bring an end to the hostilities that have drawn global attention for so long. The stakes are high, and the outcome could profoundly affect the future of both Ukraine and Russia, as well as broader international relations.
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