Trump Gets a Jolt From His Own Envoy: Witkoff Says Russia-Ukraine War Won't End This Year

The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine is unlikely to stop this year. This was admitted by Donald Trump’s own special envoy, Steve Witkoff. According to Witkoff, the pace and direction of current negotiations give no indication that a ceasefire or peace deal is anywhere close.

This remark is being seen as a major setback for Trump, who has repeatedly claimed that he would end the war “very quickly” if he comes to power. On the other hand, European leaders have maintained that Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted in any negotiations.

Trump’s Warnings Fail to Make an Impact

Despite Trump’s constant threats and promises of strong action, neither Russia nor Ukraine seems to be backing down. In fact, Ukraine has intensified its defense by producing home-grown missiles, which President Volodymyr Zelensky has described as highly effective. Meanwhile, Russia continues to escalate attacks through missiles and drones, pushing harder to take full control of the Donbass region.

Why Ceasefire Talks Are Stalled

Ukraine’s Political Authority in Question – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has dismissed Zelensky’s authority to hold talks, claiming his presidential term has already ended. Russia says negotiations can happen with him, but does not recognize him as the legitimate president. This has become the first big hurdle for Trump’s mediation attempts.

Russia’s Territorial Demands – Moscow insists it will not return captured territories, including the Donbass region, and wants official recognition of Crimea. Additionally, Russia demands that Ukraine must never be allowed to join NATO. While the US has hinted it could accept this demand, it has simultaneously pledged security guarantees to Kyiv, complicating the situation further.