Ukraine's spy chief: Peace talks narrowed to one, two key issues

Ukraine has made significant progress in negotiations aimed at ending the war with Russia, with the number of unresolved issues reduced to one or two key points, according to Rustem Umerov, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief negotiator and head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.

Speaking to Axios, Umerov said the negotiating process had advanced considerably, with many of the issues that previously complicated discussions now resolved.

“In particular, the number of stumbling blocks reduced from dozens to essentially one or two key issues that remain subject to negotiations,” he said.

Umerov described the overall direction of the talks as positive and said the United States was strongly focused on efforts to bring the war to an end.

“The trend is positive. The U.S. is super focused on the issue of stopping the war in Ukraine. The U.S. understands the situation on the battlefield, and signals to everyone that this terrible war should end,” Umerov said.

Umerov also rejected a recent report by The Kyiv Independent that the Ukrainian government was “growing increasingly frustrated” with U.S. presidential envoy Steve Witkoff.

Asked about the report, Umerov told Axios that the account was false.

By Sabina Mammadli