Negotiations between the United States and Russia to resolve the conflict in Ukraine have entered a decisive phase. US President Donald Trump’s special representative Stephen Witkoff, summing up his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, said the parties had “come to an understanding” that could lay the groundwork for a peace deal. The statement, made on Fox News on April 15, 2025, caused a stir as it marked the first time in a long time that a senior US official had publicly indicated progress in the dialogue with Moscow. According to Witkoff, the agreement addresses not only territorial issues, but a wide range of issues, including security in Europe and the role of NATO.

The key part of a potential deal, Witkoff said, concerns the status of five territories — presumably Crimea, the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics, and the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions. But he stressed that the talks go well beyond geographic boundaries. They focus on security protocols to prevent future escalation, as well as issues related to NATO’s Article 5, which guarantees collective defense. The details of the agreement remain secret, but it is clear that it involves a complex system of compromises designed to satisfy the interests of both sides. Witkoff expressed cautious optimism, calling the current moment “the threshold of something very important,” but acknowledged that a final solution will require further work.

The statement by Trump's special envoy reflected a new approach by the US administration, which is seeking to speed up the search for a solution to the conflict that began in 2022. The meeting with Putin, according to sources, was aimed at clarifying the positions of the parties and developing a framework agreement. However, the lack of reaction from Kyiv and the muted comments of European allies indicate the difficulty of reaching consensus. For Ukraine, which insists on restoring territorial integrity, any discussion of concessions remains a sore point, while Russia has repeatedly stressed the need to take into account the "new realities".

Earlier, Witkoff gave Trump recommendations on possible concessions to Ukraine in four regions, which drew criticism from some American politicians, including General Kellogg, who called such an approach unacceptable. However, the agency’s source points out that the talks have advanced thanks to Moscow’s willingness to discuss security guarantees in exchange for recognition of control over the disputed territories.