In a dramatic new development that could shift the course of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is reportedly seeking a “permanent peace” and a “legally binding settlement,” according to Steve Witkoff, the special envoy appointed by US President Donald Trump. The disclosure follows a nearly five-hour meeting between Witkoff and the Russian leader on April 11, their third meeting since February.

Witkoff, a businessman and Trump confidant now turned diplomat, shared details of the meeting in an April 14 interview with Fox News, calling the discussions with Putin “compelling” and expressing cautious optimism that a major diplomatic breakthrough may be within reach. The news marks one of the most significant signs in recent months that a negotiated end to the war, now in its third year, might be possible.

“We’re talking about something beyond just a ceasefire,” Witkoff stated. “We got an answer to that. It took a while for us to get to this place.”

The cornerstone of any prospective agreement, according to Witkoff, hinges on recognition of the territorial status quo – a position that is almost certain to spark controversy in Washington, Brussels, and Kiev. Russia demands international recognition of Crimea, which it annexed in 2014, and the Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, which were incorporated into Russia following referenda in 2022 widely rejected by the West.

However, Witkoff emphasized that territorial claims are just one element of a more complex, multi-faceted negotiation.........

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