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Russia invaded Ukraine back in February 2022.
11:38, Wed, Jan 21, 2026 Updated: 12:01, Wed, Jan 21, 2026
Ukraine (Image: Getty)
US envoy Steve Witkoff has issued a major update on peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, saying a peace deal is 90% done. It comes as efforts to secure a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly fallen apart, but growing pressure from the US over the past few months has shifted the dynamics.
Donald Trump’s frustration with the prolonged war, a conflict that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of military and civilian lives, has added urgency to diplomatic efforts. Sharing an update, Mr Witkoff said: "[There’s been] lots of progress in the last six to eight weeks," adding that he and the President Trump's son-in-law Jared Kusher will soon be meeting Ukrainian officials before meeting top Russian officials.
Special Envoy Steve Witkoff that the peace talks are likely to happen soon. (Image: Getty)
Mr Witkoff told CNBC at World Econimic Forum in Switzerland: "And then we will be seeing the Russians, Jared and I, sometime on Thursday evening."
The top US official added that Vladimir Putin will be attending the meeting and that the Kremlin had requested the talks, with discussions over a U.S.-led 20-point peace plan making progress.
He said: "We are bringing everyone closer ...hopefully we will have something good to announce soon. [It’s based on] our 20-point peace plan, and we are massaging it and harmonising it, and I think we are down to land deals now — that’s been the 800 lb elephant in the room — and I think we have some very, very good ideas around that, and hopefully we will be able to make some progress there."
Vladimir Putin is likely to be present in the meeting. (Image: Getty)
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