Steve Witkoff, special envoy to the Middle East under President Donald Trump, has spoken out about the immense logistical and strategic challenges involved in implementing a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, despite recent diplomatic progress.
Speaking on CBS News’ "Face the Nation" on March 16, Witkoff stated that the Ukrainian conflict spans a much broader and more complex area than other recent conflicts, such as in Gaza.
“A ceasefire involves how to get people to not be fighting with each other over a 2,000-kilometer border,” he said, referring to the active front lines across Ukraine and parts of Russia.
His remarks followed a visit to Moscow on March 13 to discuss the temporary ceasefire plan, which Ukraine accepted during a U.S.-Ukrainian meeting in Saudi Arabia two days earlier.
Strategic Flashpoints
Witkoff pointed to several sensitive sites and regions that would need to be addressed in any serious ceasefire deal. Chief among them: the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, located in the occupied city of Enerhodar.
“There is a nuclear reactor that supplies quite a bit of electricity to the country of Ukraine. That’s got to be dealt with,” Witkoff said.
Though still under Russian military control, the plant has not been producing electricity since its disconnection from the Ukrainian power grid—an outcome of ongoing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Ukraine and its Western allies have repeatedly demanded a full Russian withdrawal from the nuclear site, citing safety and sovereignty concerns.
In addition to energy infrastructure, access to Black Sea ports remains a key issue in the conflict, with both sides prioritizing control over maritime supply routes and export hubs.
Ceasefire Compared to Gaza Conflict
Witkoff contrasted Ukraine’s ceasefire challenges with those in Gaza, where fighting takes place in a comparatively compact and clearly defined area.
“Gaza is a finite, defined space, as compared to where the battle is being fought in Ukraine, Russia. So this is a much more complicated situation,” he said.
Despite the hurdles, Witkoff maintained that the ceasefire initiative remains active and that international players—including the U.S., Ukraine, Russia, and European partners—are continuing efforts to secure a pause in fighting.
“No one is throwing their hands up in the air,” Witkoff added.
