Zelensky Rates Witkoff's Peace Package: 'A Couple of Ideas Were Very Worthy,' but the Outcome Remains Unknown

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly commented on the contents of the peace package prepared by U.S. presidential special envoy Steve Witkoff. According to the head of state, the document does indeed contain 'a couple of ideas, very good, worthy ones,' but he openly acknowledged that he cannot yet judge whether their implementation will lead to a concrete result. 'As for the peace package Witkoff mentioned, there really were a couple of very good, worthy ideas. Whether it will produce a result — I don't know yet. I cannot say these ideas right now,' Zelensky told journalists, emphasizing that the content of the proposals is not being disclosed.

Order of work: first elaboration, then communication

A key element of the statement was information about an agreement between Kyiv and the American side regarding the procedure. According to Zelensky, Ukraine and representatives of the Trump administration agreed that the proposed ideas would first be worked out, and only after that would further communication take place. Thus, public discussion of the package's details is excluded at this stage, and an assessment of its viability is deferred until the analytical phase is complete.

Context: a new Washington project for 'long-term peace'

Zelensky's statement fits into the broader context of U.S. efforts to settle the conflict. Earlier, U.S. presidential special envoy Jared Kushner stated that Washington is preparing a new project aimed not simply at stopping the fighting, but at achieving long-term peace in Ukraine. In his words, the goal is to develop a mechanism that guarantees lasting peace, ends the hostility, and opens up the possibility of realizing the potential of both countries. Witkoff, after meetings, including in Moscow and Kyiv, said that he was 'satisfied' with the course of the negotiations.

Contradictory data

Assessments of the package's content and prospects by various parties and publications differ. Zelensky characterizes some of the proposals as 'very worthy' and 'good,' which can be read as a signal that workable ideas exist. At the same time, the Financial Times, referring to the course of Witkoff's and Kushner's visit to Kyiv, reported that there were few updated peace proposals, and that several hours of negotiations with Zelensky did not bring a breakthrough on ending the war. Kushner, for his part, noted that the American side had put forward 'new ideas' but did not disclose their content. Thus, one side speaks of the existence of worthy ideas, the other of a lack of breakthrough and a small number of new proposals, while the final assessment is deferred until the elaboration is complete.

What this means for the negotiation track

The totality of the statements indicates that the negotiation track is in a phase of internal elaboration rather than public agreement on details. Kyiv acknowledges the existence of certain acceptable ideas but does not confirm readiness for their immediate implementation, while Washington maintains intrigue around the 'new ideas.' Until the elaboration stage agreed upon by the parties is completed, no public communication on the substance of the package is expected, and any assessments of its prospects remain preliminary.