MOSCOW (The COW News Digital) Efforts to end the war in Ukraine have reportedly reached a critical stage, with the outgoing U.S. special envoy for Ukraine claiming that a peace agreement is “extremely close,” though Russia has indicated that significant changes are necessary to reach a final deal.
At the Reagan National Defense Forum, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, stated that negotiations have entered the “last 10 meters,” traditionally the most challenging phase of any diplomatic effort. Kellogg, who is set to step down next month, emphasized that only two major unresolved issues remain: the regional status of Donbas and the future of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest, currently under Russian control.
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“If we can resolve these two issues, most other matters will largely fall into place. We are very, very close,” Kellogg said, highlighting the progress made in the peace talks.
Meanwhile, Russian media cited Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy aide to President Vladimir Putin, saying that Washington would need to make serious and fundamental changes to its proposals on Ukraine. Ushakov did not provide specifics on which modifications Russia expects.
The discussions follow recent high-level meetings in the Kremlin, where Trump’s special envoy Steve Wittkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner held four-hour talks with President Putin. Ushakov noted that regional issues were among the topics addressed during these meetings. Russian officials have indicated that Kushner is expected to play a key role in drafting a potential peace agreement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also confirmed that discussions with Wittkoff and Kushner were “long and productive,” signaling cautious optimism about the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
The conflict in Ukraine began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion, though tensions in Donbas had persisted for eight years prior, with clashes between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian forces in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Analysts note that while the peace process is approaching a decisive stage, the remaining issues—especially the territorial status of Donbas and the management of Zaporizhzhia—remain highly sensitive. Both sides face pressure to resolve these matters to prevent further escalation and ensure long-term stability in the region.
