U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff conveyed a sense of hope on Sunday as high-stakes discussions were set to take place in Saudi Arabia aimed at resolving the ongoing war in Ukraine. He expressed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin is inclined to bring an end to the three-year conflict.
“I believe he desires peace,” Witkoff stated during an interview with Fox News.
A U.S. delegation is scheduled to engage in talks later on Sunday with Ukrainian officials regarding a potential partial ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. Following this, U.S. and Russian representatives will meet on Monday in Saudi Arabia.
“I anticipate that we will witness significant advancements in Saudi Arabia on Monday, especially concerning a ceasefire in the Black Sea for shipping between the two nations. This could naturally lead to a comprehensive ceasefire in hostilities,” Witkoff remarked.
Last week, Putin agreed to a temporary halt in attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure but did not support a full 30-day ceasefire that former President Trump had hoped would serve as a foundation for a lasting peace agreement. Ukraine has accepted Trump’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
See more: This is on Hamas,’ US special envoy Witkoff says of new Gaza fighting
When questioned about the criticism of Putin from Western nations, Witkoff suggested that there are always two perspectives to consider and downplayed the worries among NATO allies in Washington that a deal could encourage Moscow to invade other neighboring countries.
“I simply do not believe he aims to conquer all of Europe. This situation is markedly different from what it was during World War II,” Witkoff concluded.
