Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his anticipation for a detailed briefing from Steve Witkoff concerning the negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Zelensky stated that the teams involved must first agree on a time for discussions, after which he expects a collaborative dialogue among Ukrainian, American, and European teams.
Initial signals regarding the negotiation outcomes were already communicated to Zelensky by Jared Kushner, former President Trump’s son-in-law, during Zelensky’s train journey back to Kyiv. According to Kushner, the Russian side is supportive of a trilateral meeting involving the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia at the negotiators’ level in November.
Zelensky remarked, “Tomorrow I will have not a general summary, but a more detailed report from Steve.”
Context
- Media reports referencing U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that following negotiations in Oslo on October 20, Witkoff presented ideas to the illegitimate President of the aggressor country, Vladimir Putin, which were discussed with Zelensky. The main sticking point remains the Donbas, with proposed solutions requiring concessions from both sides.
- According to Axios, the White House hopes for a greater willingness from Putin to compromise after Trump agreed to ease sanctions on Russian diesel fuel exports and took other steps positively received in Moscow.
- On the evening of October 21, the U.S. President stated that resolving the war in Ukraine is “closer than ever before.” However, around the same time, the Russian army launched a heavy attack on the capital with ballistic missiles.
