The announcement was made ahead of a meeting between US President Trump and his Ukrainian counterpart Zelensky in Davos.
United States Ambassador Steve Witkoff says Russia-Ukraine peace talks have made “a lot of progress” and negotiations are down to one last point, as Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky arrives in Switzerland for talks with US President Donald Trump.
“I think we’ve brought it down to a problem, and we’ve discussed the iteration of that problem, and that means it’s solvable,” Witkoff told the audience. World Economic Forum (WEF) in the Swiss city of Davos on Thursday.
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“If both sides want to work it out, we’ll work it out,” he said.
The US ambassador said he had traveled to the Russian capital, Moscow, with Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
Witkoff said the pair would not stay overnight in Moscow but would fly to the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, where talks would continue in “military-to-military” working groups.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow appreciated Witkoff’s diplomatic efforts to end the war but declined to comment on his optimism that a deal was near. Earlier this week, the Kremlin said President Vladimir Putin would meet Witkoff during the visit.
Meanwhile, Trump and Zelensky were scheduled to meet at 12:00 GMT on Thursday. Zelenskyy’s spokesman, Sergii Nykyforov, told reporters that the president had arrived in Davos and was to address the WEF after meeting with Trump.
Zelensky said earlier this week that he would go to Davos only if he had the chance to sign an agreement with Trump to resolve the nearly four-year war that would include security guarantees and post-war reconstruction funding for Ukraine.
‘Keep our eye on Ukraine’s ball’
While it is unclear what the last remaining sticking point is, Zelensky said in December that the long-term fate of Russian-held territory and who Moscow is demanding are Kiev-held territory and control of the Russian-held Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
Trump repeatedly claimed on Wednesday that Putin and Zelensky were close to a deal. “I believe they’re now at a point where they can come together and make a deal. And if they don’t, they’re stupid – it’s for both of them,” he said later. giving a speech At the annual meeting of the global elite.
The US has separately discussed various drafts of a plan to end the war with Russia, Ukraine and European leaders, but no deal has yet been reached despite Trump’s repeated promises.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised Trump’s efforts to end the war but said Ukraine still needs military aid as it faces Russian missile and drone attacks.
“We need to keep our eye on the Ukraine ball. Not drop the ball. And that means. Yes, great, peace talks. Fantastic. We will do everything to make it a success, but it won’t happen tomorrow,” he said.
Russian attacks this week have left most of Ukraine’s capital without power, with residents of 3,000 buildings in Kiev without heat in sub-zero temperatures.
Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said overnight Russian drone strikes hit a residential building, killing a 17-year-old.