U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff has expressed confidence about upcoming peace negotiations in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
Speaking during a recent interview, Witkoff suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin may be open to pursuing a peaceful resolution.
“I feel that he wants peace,” Witkoff stated, emphasizing his belief that the discussions could yield meaningful progress.
He highlighted that a key focus would be establishing a Black Sea ceasefire to safeguard maritime activities between Ukraine and Russia.
“I think that you’re going to see in Saudi Arabia on Monday some real progress, particularly as it affects a Black Sea ceasefire on ships between both countries. And from that, you’ll naturally gravitate into a full-on shooting ceasefire,” Witkoff said.
According to Witkoff, U.S. officials are set to meet with their Ukrainian counterparts on Sunday to discuss a potential partial ceasefire.
Talks with Russian representatives are scheduled for Monday, with discussions expected to center on a 30-day ceasefire aimed at protecting energy infrastructure. The broader goal is to extend the agreement to cover Black Sea shipping routes.
Despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, violence continues to disrupt Ukraine. On the eve of the Saudi talks, Russian drone strikes across Ukraine resulted in at least seven fatalities, including three individuals in Kyiv.
The attacks targeted residential areas and regions such as Kharkiv and Donetsk, highlighting the urgency of the upcoming negotiations.
Addressing concerns about Putin’s broader intentions, Witkoff dismissed fears of extensive territorial ambitions, comparing the situation to previous global conflicts.
“I just don’t see that he wants to take all of Europe. This is a much different situation than it was in World War Two,” he remarked, suggesting that Putin’s objectives might be more limited than some Western analysts believe.
The Saudi Arabia talks are expected to address various critical issues, including measures to build confidence and the situation of Ukrainian children reportedly relocated to Russia—a matter Ukraine has labeled a war crime.
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz explained that once a ceasefire is in place, discussions would focus on establishing control lines and verification mechanisms to support lasting peace.
