Ceasefire chances slim, but talks could resume after Witkoff's meetings, source says
Photo: Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian leader Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Ukraine considers reaching an energy ceasefire unlikely following the current round of negotiations and Witkoff’s visit to St. Petersburg, an informed source told RBC-Ukraine.
"We would consider the renewal of the negotiating track at the delegation level a successful outcome of Witkoff’s talks with Putin. Ideally, the next step would be to obtain political agreement on some de-escalation measures. The Russians react poorly to the word 'ceasefire'; they believe they currently have the advantage," the source said.
That is why, in the Russians’ view, there is no point in giving us a pause right now.
"This requires basic measures to restore trust, because there is total distrust among everyone, and as a result, even simple, basic things become possible," the source added.
In other words, even something as seemingly simple as contact between technical delegations, which previously could have been arranged within 48 hours, has already become some kind of event — an issue they need to discuss at the Security Council.
"So the main idea is: let’s all calm down and try to move toward a managed process of achieving peace through negotiations," the source further explained.
The source added that before the US congressional elections on November 3, the maximum achievement on the political front would be the reactivation of the negotiating track. He noted that good news could emerge earlier in the humanitarian sphere, particularly regarding the situation in occupied Oleshky.
What are the next steps after Witkoff’s visit?
After talks with Putin, Witkoff will call the Ukrainian side. Ukrainian negotiators will then call European security advisers and brief them on the latest information.
"If we manage to reach an agreement now and make a new meeting at the delegation level possible in a location such as Abu Dhabi, we want everyone to be present there — not just us, the Americans, and the Russians, but also the Europeans, who have been actively involved in all recent contacts," the source explained.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg on October 21. According to Russian media reports, the American plane landed at Pulkovo airport in the morning, where Putin’s special representative Kirill Dmitriev greeted the visitor. Later, the two headed to the Konstantinovsky Palace, where the talks were scheduled to take place. The United States has not yet commented on the visit.
The main topic of Witkoff’s talks with Putin is the war against Ukraine.
Yesterday, Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Trump’s negotiators in Oslo.
According to Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who took part in the meeting, the sides developed elements of a peace settlement that they plan to present in St. Petersburg.
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Moscow hoped to meet with Witkoff soon, as he would brief Putin on his discussions with Ukrainians and Europeans.
