Trump's envoy says progress made in Ukraine talks, hints at near-term peace deal

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said Thursday negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine have made significant progress and are expected to continue next week.

"We think we made a lot of progress," Witkoff sait at a Cabinet meeting.

His remarks came after Russia and Ukraine held US-mediated consultations in the United Arab Emirates. A new round is due on Sunday, again in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi.

"The talks will continue in about a week, but lots of good things happening between counterparty discussing the land deal," Witkoff said.

He said negotiators have largely completed two key components of a broader agreement: a security protocol and a prosperity framework intended to support Ukraine’s postwar stability and reconstruction.

"We have a security protocol agreement that's largely finished, a prosperity agreement that's largely, largely finished. And I think the people of Ukraine are now hopeful and expecting that we're going to deliver a peace deal sometime soon," he added.