Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff of promoting Russian viewpoints regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. This accusation arose as Witkoff was in Paris for discussions with Ukrainian and European officials about a significant minerals deal that Zelenskyy indicated was nearing completion.
Zelenskyy’s comments were made during a news conference, where he mentioned that a "memorandum of intent" for the minerals agreement with the U.S. could be signed online soon. However, U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking later at the White House, suggested that the signing might happen next week instead.
Witkoff recently met with Russian President Vladimir Putin and described their talks as "compelling." During these discussions, Witkoff spoke about a potential peace deal concerning five territories, which many believe refer to Crimea and the four regions Russia annexed in 2022: Kherson, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia. These votes were widely criticized by Western nations and are not fully recognized, as Russia does not control these areas entirely.
Zelenskyy expressed concern that Witkoff’s statements echoed Moscow’s narrative, with accusations that he was undermining Ukraine’s position. In his press conference, Zelenskyy also claimed to have evidence of Chinese support for Russia in the form of artillery production.
Despite efforts to establish a ceasefire, progress has been slow. Critics allege that Russia is stalling negotiations. Trump indicated that he expects a response from Putin regarding a ceasefire proposal soon, but he expressed dissatisfaction with Zelenskyy’s handling of the situation, stating he is "not a big fan" of the Ukrainian leader.
In the meantime, violence continues in Ukraine. Recently, three people were killed in a drone attack in Dnipro, with many others injured. Zelenskyy noted that while Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have decreased, assaults on civilian areas have increased, causing significant damage to homes and public facilities.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the situation remains tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating agreements. The next round of talks is set to take place in London next week, as the international community watches closely for any signs of progress.