by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
WASHINGTON/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – A senior U.S. official has expressed cautious optimism that negotiations to end the war in Ukraine may be nearing a breakthrough, even as violence continues across several front-line regions.
Speaking at the Reagan National Defense Forum in California, U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg said that a potential agreement is “really close,” with only two major issues still unresolved: the future of the Donbas region, and control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest.
Kellogg noted that conflicts often become most difficult to resolve in their final stages.
“The last ten minutes to an objective is always the hardest,” he said, adding that the outstanding issues “are primarily about terrain… and the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is currently in cold storage.”
U.S. President Donald J. Trump, under whom Kellogg serves, has repeatedly said he hopes to be remembered as a “peacemaker,” though a lasting settlement in Ukraine has so far proven elusive.
HEAVY HUMAN COST
Kellogg, who will step down as envoy in January, also reflected on the immense human suffering caused by almost four years of full-scale war.
“The scale of this conflict is unprecedented for a regional war,” he said, comparing casualty numbers to those of Afghanistan and Vietnam. “Russia and Ukraine combined have lost over two million,” he added, referring to dead and injured soldiers.
Such figures cannot be independently verified, but officials say they highlight the deep tragedy affecting families on both sides of the conflict.
Despite diplomatic activity, the situation on the ground remains volatile. On Sunday, Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed its forces had taken control of the villages of Kucherivka in the Kharkiv region and Rivne in Donetsk.
Moscow also launched coordinated strikes against Ukrainian transport infrastructure, fuel depots, energy facilities, military airfields, and drone sites, officials said.
NUCLEAR CONCERN
Ukrainian authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that a large-scale barrage of drones and missiles damaged power infrastructure in eight regions.
That forced nuclear plants to reduce output, leaving tens of thousands of people without electricity and heating.
The southern port city of Odesa and the frontline city of Kherson were heavily affected, with widespread blackouts as winter temperatures drop.
The intensifying humanitarian crisis has renewed calls for a ceasefire and dialogue.
The Vatican has been involved in supporting peace efforts, repeatedly urging all sides to pursue paths of peace, protect civilians, and ensure humanitarian access ahead of Christmas.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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