Witkoff Suggests Zelenskyy-Putin Meeting to Resolve Territorial Disputes and Security Guarantees

U.S. Special Envoy Steven Witkoff believes a direct meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be instrumental in resolving the ongoing conflict, specifically addressing territorial disputes and security guarantees for Ukraine. This assessment was shared during the YES meeting organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation on February 24, 2026, as reported by the Kyiv Independent.

Focus on Leader-Level Resolution

Witkoff indicated that the U.S. Approach centers on facilitating a discussion between the two leaders to specifically tackle the most challenging aspects of the conflict – territorial issues. “We have a lot of faith in this meeting, we believe that part of what we were trying to do was resolve all the other issues and then leave the issue of territories to the leaders,” Witkoff stated. He acknowledged the complexity of the territorial questions, noting the require to explore various options, and concepts.

Broader Agreement and Security Guarantees

According to Witkoff, a potential Zelenskyy-Putin meeting would aim to confirm previously discussed agreements related to economic prosperity, growth, and Ukrainian system reform. The discussion would similarly encompass crucial security guarantees for Ukraine. “This is a confirmation of the issues that we discussed: prosperity, economic growth and opportunity, credit for the Ukrainian system. So the meeting would cover that, security guarantees. But most importantly, it would cover the issue of territories,” he explained.

Potential for Trilateral Talks

Witkoff expressed hope that a successful bilateral meeting could pave the way for a trilateral discussion involving other key stakeholders. “And so we believe highly much in that,” he said, adding, “then perhaps we will complete with some kind of trilateral.”

Background on Steven Witkoff’s Role

Steven Charles Witkoff (born March 15, 1957) is an American real estate developer and investor who currently serves as the United States Special Envoy to the Middle East and Special Envoy for Peace Missions, appointed in 2025 under the Trump administration. According to Wikipedia, he has also acted as a de facto envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Associated Press notes Witkoff’s extensive involvement in diplomatic efforts, including recent talks in Moscow.