US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that Russia has presented a “peace proposal,” and Washington hopes the Ukraine conflict could be resolved by the end of 2025, with former President Trump acting as an intermediary.
US Hopes for Ukraine Peace by Year-End as Russia Presents “Proposal on the Table”
US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated that Washington hopes the Ukraine conflict could be resolved by the end of 2025, highlighting that Moscow has put forward a “peace proposal on the table” alongside ongoing meetings with representatives from Russia and Ukraine.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting with former President Donald Trump on August 26, Witkoff said he would be holding “meetings throughout this week” on Ukraine as well as other global hotspots, and expressed hope that “an agreement could be reached before the end of this year.”
In a subsequent interview with Fox News, Witkoff noted that although Trump had expressed frustration with both Moscow and Kyiv, Russia had at least “presented a peace proposal.” He acknowledged that territorial concessions “might be difficult for Ukraine to accept,” but argued that the Trump administration had brought the parties closer to an agreement than ever before.
“The peace proposal is on the table,” Witkoff emphasized. “We are at a point where we believe the end is in sight… We have technical teams working, and we hope that by the end of this year, or possibly sooner, a ‘formula’ can be found to reach a peace agreement.”
According to Witkoff, President Putin has clearly expressed a desire to end the conflict and discussed Moscow’s stance in depth with Trump at the historic Alaska summit earlier this month. While no details of the agreement have been released, Moscow has long maintained that a sustainable solution can only be achieved if Kyiv commits to not joining NATO, demilitarization, ‘de-fascistization,’ and recognition of the current realities on the battlefield. This includes acknowledging Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia as Russian territory—areas that held referendums to join Russia in 2014 and 2022.
Witkoff stressed that any decisions regarding territorial concessions would be made by Ukraine itself, suggesting that the issue would be tied to long-term security guarantees. He also mentioned that he would meet with Ukrainian officials in New York this week and confirmed that Washington maintains daily communication with Moscow. Recent reports indicate discussions are considering the possibility of Kyiv relinquishing remaining positions in Donbass in exchange for unspecified commitments from the West.
Witkoff also revealed the potential for a bilateral meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, noting that Trump might “need to be present at the negotiating table to finalize the agreement.”
On Russia’s side, Putin has not ruled out meeting Zelensky but stressed that such a meeting could only occur after substantial progress in negotiations. Moscow has also repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing the expiration of his term and warning that any agreement he signs could be overturned by his successor.