U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday that negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have made significant progress and are now focused on resolving a single outstanding issue, signaling what could be the most advanced phase of diplomacy since the conflict began.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Witkoff said talks involving the United States, Russia, Ukraine, and European partners are converging after months of parallel negotiations on competing peace proposals.
“If both sides want to solve this, we’re going to get it solved,” Witkoff told an audience, adding, “I think we’ve made a lot of progress.”
The United States has been holding separate discussions with Moscow, as well as with Kyiv and European leaders, as it works to bridge gaps between rival draft frameworks for ending the war. While no agreement has yet been finalized, Witkoff’s comments suggest the talks have narrowed considerably.
Witkoff said he was heading to Moscow later on Thursday, underscoring the urgency of U.S. diplomatic efforts to move the process forward.
The negotiations come as President Donald Trump has repeatedly said he wants to secure a deal to end the conflict, which is approaching its third year and has reshaped European security.
A day earlier at the Davos forum, Trump criticized the leaders of both Russia and Ukraine, saying they would be “stupid” not to reach an agreement.
His remarks reflected mounting pressure from Washington for the parties to finalize a settlement after months of back-channel diplomacy.
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Witkoff made his comments during an unscheduled appearance at a breakfast meeting focused on Ukraine’s future, which included NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Rutte said he was confident Trump remains committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“I have never doubted this,” Rutte said, urging allies to stay focused. “What we need is to keep our eyes on the ball of Ukraine. Let’s not drop that ball.”
Despite the reported progress, major issues remain unresolved publicly, including territorial control, security guarantees, and Ukraine’s future relationship with NATO and the European Union.