U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy announced Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has shown openness to a “permanent peace” agreement with Ukraine, following a new round of diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the ongoing war, now in its fourth year.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special representative, revealed in a Fox News interview that a recent meeting with Putin in Saint Petersburg marked a potential breakthrough. It was the third face-to-face discussion between Witkoff and Putin since Trump returned to the White House in January.
“Putin’s request is for a lasting peace,” Witkoff said, indicating a shift in tone from the Kremlin. “So, beyond just pushing for a ceasefire, we received a response that suggests something more enduring may be possible.”
Witkoff added that two of Putin’s key advisers—Yuri Ushakov and Kirill Dmitriev—also participated in what he called a “compelling meeting.”
Though Trump has pushed aggressively for a ceasefire, his administration has yet to secure firm concessions from Russia. Earlier efforts were stymied by Moscow’s refusal to accept an unconditional pause in fighting.
“I think we may be on the cusp of something very significant for global peace,” Witkoff said.
He also confirmed that the broader U.S.–Russia relationship, including potential commercial ventures, was part of the discussion.
“There’s an opportunity here to reshape relations between the United States and Russia through promising business partnerships that could help bring more stability to the region,” he said.
Despite renewed diplomatic momentum, key obstacles remain. Last month, Putin rejected a joint U.S.–Ukrainian ceasefire proposal, while the Kremlin continues to demand that certain Western sanctions be lifted as a condition for halting hostilities in the Black Sea.
For now, Trump’s team remains cautiously optimistic, with hopes that continued engagement could lay the groundwork for both a ceasefire and longer-term peace framework.