US Envoy Steve Witkoff Says Peace Deal Between Ukraine and Russia Is ‘Very Close’
Washington, D.C., The Gulf Observer: Steve Witkoff, special envoy for US President Donald Trump, stated that the United States is “very close” to brokering a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, which would mirror the terms of the Istanbul Protocol Agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict.
In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Witkoff emphasized that the war, which has led to the loss of nearly 1.5 million lives, was unnecessary and that efforts to negotiate peace should have been pursued earlier.
“The war didn’t need to happen. It was provoked. It doesn’t necessarily mean it was provoked by the Russians,” Witkoff explained, highlighting the broader geopolitical context, including discussions surrounding Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO. He pointed out that this development had become a perceived threat to Russia, which further escalated tensions.
Witkoff expressed optimism that the United States would use the Istanbul Protocol framework, a previous attempt at negotiation, as a blueprint for future peace talks. “We came very, very close to signing something, and I think we’ll be using that framework as a guidepost to get a peace deal done between Ukraine and Russia, and I think that will be an amazing day,” he said.
Addressing the involvement of President Trump, Witkoff said, “We have had close to 1.5 million deaths, and finally, we have a leader determined to end the carnage.”
Meanwhile, tensions have surfaced at the United Nations as the US has pushed Ukraine to withdraw its European-backed resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces. Instead, the US has proposed a resolution that does not mention Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, Ukraine has refused to retract its draft resolution, and a vote in the UN General Assembly is set for Monday, marking the third anniversary of the war.
The UN Security Council, which is the more influential body, is also expected to vote on a similar US proposal. A vote had been scheduled for Monday afternoon, although it may be delayed until Tuesday at Russia’s request.
The competing resolutions underscore the growing divisions between the US, Ukraine, and European nations, with tensions escalating since President Trump’s inauguration. His administration has opened negotiations with Russia, marking a shift from years of diplomatic isolation.
