Witkoff: no peace deal until Ukrainians are sure Russia won’t attack again

“There is no deal here unless Ukraine and its people can believe that they will be able to live in peace if, in fact, there is a diplomatic solution,” Witkoff told the Yalta European Strategy event held in Kyiv on Feb. 24.

“That, I believe, will require strong security protocols from the United States backing up strong security protocols from Europe. And we set forth in that Geneva first meeting — we worked long hours — to establish that.”

Witkoff said he “strongly” believes a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin could take place. He said negotiators should first try to resolve other issues and leave territorial questions to the leaders, adding that “there is a lot of work” on territorial matters and many options must be considered.

If a Zelenskyy–Putin summit does happen, Witkoff said another meeting that includes U.S. President Donald Trump is possible, but it is “too early to talk” about that.

“We’re going to do everything we can to help you to get to the right solution, the right peaceful solution, so that everybody in your country can live in peace one day,” he concluded.