Washington Hopes for Direct Talks Between Kyiv and Moscow
Steve Witkoff, senior adviser to the White House and assistant to the president, expressed hope in an exclusive interview with Breitbart News that a personal summit between Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin could become a turning point in efforts to bring peace to Ukraine. According to him, such a dialogue is “entirely possible,” and he is personally ready to take on the role of mediator.
“I hope so,” Witkoff said when asked whether such a summit might happen soon, adding that the American side is actively working to bring the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to the same table. According to Breitbart, the meeting could take place in the coming days — possibly in Turkey.
Witkoff, whom Donald Trump has appointed as one of his key negotiators on the Ukraine issue, emphasized: “If the U.S. fully withdraws from the conflict and says: this is not our war, we did what we could — that would be bad for everyone. For Europe, for Ukraine, and even for Russia.” He believes both sides are searching for a way out, and the main task now is “to show them that the alternatives to peace are far worse.”
Trump’s Ultimatum and the Road to Compromise
According to Witkoff, President Trump has issued an ultimatum: either Russia and Ukraine engage in direct talks, or the U.S. pulls back its involvement in the conflict. “We didn’t start this war, but we want to help end it,” he said. For him, diplomacy is the only reasonable solution: “Solutions work when there is direct dialogue.”
Witkoff calls the war in Ukraine a “stupid war” that “didn’t need to happen.” In his view, the war would not have started if Donald Trump had remained in the White House in 2022. “If there hadn’t been a false election, there would be no war,” he declared. This is why the Trump administration has deployed a broad team of negotiators: Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are all involved in the peace effort.
According to Witkoff, the key unresolved issues include the status of five disputed regions in Ukraine, the operations of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea. He clarified that two of the regions are fully controlled by Russia, while three are partially under Ukrainian control. Both the front lines and administrative borders are being discussed. The Zaporizhzhia plant, he says, is “the crown jewel of the southern energy grid” and must be restarted, as it previously provided power to parts of Kyiv.
Access to the Black Sea and Ukraine’s ability to export goods to global markets are also among the critical concerns.
“We Must Talk to Everyone” — Trump’s Envoy on Dialogue with Putin
Witkoff confirmed he has held talks with both Ukrainian leaders — including Zelensky, Yermak, and Defense Minister Umerov — and Russian President Vladimir Putin. He stated that it is impossible to mediate without understanding both sides firsthand. He also emphasized the importance of dialogue with European allies from France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
“We can’t accept someone else’s version of what the other side wants. We have to hear it ourselves. That’s how you get to a solution,” he said.
Although the interview was recorded before rumors of a possible summit in Turkey surfaced, Witkoff’s remarks suggest preparations may already be underway. According to Breitbart News, Witkoff or Trump could quickly travel to Istanbul if needed.
“If we physically get them in a room together,” Witkoff said, “I believe we have a real chance of ending this conflict.”
This article was prepared based on materials published by Breitbart News. The author does not claim authorship of the original text but presents their interpretation of the content for informational purposes.
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