US Envoy Witkoff Meets Ukrainian Delegation in New York Amid Russia Talks

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said he will meet a Ukrainian delegation in New York this week as Washington intensifies efforts to broker an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. The delegation is expected to include presidential chief-of-staff Andriy Yermak and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, according to people familiar with the planning. Witkoff told Fox News the United States is speaking with Russian officials “every day” and that Moscow has put forward a proposal addressing the status of the eastern Donetsk region—terms he acknowledged Kyiv may find hard to accept. He described the New York talks as a “big signal” and said a direct meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy could precede a session that would also involve President Donald Trump, whom he believes will be required “to finish a deal.” The envoy’s comments follow Trump’s separate meetings with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15 and with Zelenskiy at the White House three days later. Trump has offered security guarantees to Kyiv as part of any settlement and warned he may impose new sanctions on Russia if negotiations fail to gain traction within the next two weeks. Witkoff said this week’s discussions will also touch on broader regional issues, including Iran and Gaza.