We are encouraged, says Witkoff after meeting with Putin's envoy

American negotiator Steve Witkoff said that the United States is encouraged by signs that Russia is ready to work on a peaceful solution to the war in Ukraine. He made the statement after meetings in the US with Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Witkoff described the talks, which took place in Florida, as "productive and constructive."

However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that it is not yet clear whether the negotiations are in their final stages. In an interview with Czech Radio, he said that Kyiv is still working to obtain reliable security guarantees from the US and Europe, which are necessary for post-war reconstruction and the return of investors.

Zelensky also stressed that the most sensitive issues, especially those concerning territorial integrity, can only be resolved through direct negotiations between heads of state.

According to him, it is not possible to reach an agreement without contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while Ukraine is open to negotiations in a trilateral format between the US, Russia, and Ukraine, with Europe participating in the next phase.

(est)