US President Donald Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos on Thursday. US envoy Steve Witkoff says only one major issue remains between Kyiv and Moscow, raising hopes for a peace deal.
US Envoy Signals Progress
Before traveling to Moscow to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff expressed cautious optimism.
“I think we’ve got it down to one issue and we have discussed iterations of that issue, and that means it’s solvable,” Witkoff said.
Although he did not specify the issue, it may involve Ukraine’s industrial region in Donbas. The plan could create a demilitarized economic zone in exchange for security guarantees for Kyiv.
Witkoff added, “If both sides want to solve this, we’re going to get it solved.”
Trump and Zelensky at Davos
Trump emphasized the urgency of ending the war:
“I think they’re getting close; a lot of people are being killed, we’ve got to get it done.”
Last week, Trump said he believed Putin was “ready to make a deal,” but Zelensky was “less ready.”
Zelensky traveled overnight to reach Davos. He had postponed his trip after Russian strikes on Kyiv’s power grid left thousands without heat, water, or electricity during winter.
Key Issues: Donbas and Nuclear Plant
The Donbas region remains a sticking point. Zelensky proposed withdrawing Ukrainian troops from 25% of Donetsk by up to 40 km (25 miles) to create an economic zone, if Russia does the same.
Another unresolved issue is the future control of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, which Russia seized in March 2022.
Zelensky previously said a 20-point US plan to end the war was 90% ready, leaving only a few key disagreements.
Security Guarantees and Economic Recovery
Ukraine aims to secure agreements on security guarantees and post-war reconstruction. Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s national security council, confirmed that Ukrainian teams discussed economic recovery, security, and reconstruction with US officials in Davos.
The Kremlin remains cautious. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said talks would continue “on the Ukrainian issue and other related topics” and did not comment on Witkoff’s optimism.
Uncertain Outcomes at Davos
It is unclear whether Trump and Zelensky will sign key documents during the meeting. Zelensky said there is “one mile left to finalize these documents”, signaling that negotiations are almost complete but still ongoing.
Meetings between Trump, Zelensky, and US envoys, including Jared Kushner, could shape the framework to end the war in Ukraine.
Conclusion
Trump’s meeting with Zelensky is a key moment in efforts to end the war. With only one major issue unresolved, both sides face pressure to reach a compromise. The coming days may reveal whether a lasting peace deal is possible.
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