US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that Russia and Ukraine are nearing a ceasefire settlement, saying “most of the major points are agreed to” and urging each side to carry high-level talks to “finish it off”.
Posting from Rome on Friday, the place he’s attending the funeral of Pope Francis, Trump took to Truth Social saying, “Just landed in Rome. A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to ‘finish it off.’ Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war!”
His remarks got here shortly after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a three-hour assembly with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed the talks had been “constructive” and included a “discussion on the possibility of renewing direct negotiations” with Ukraine, signalling a uncommon alignment between US and Russian positions. Ukrainian and Russian delegations haven’t met for direct negotiations because the early months of the battle, which started in February 2022.
While Trump has insisted the battle might finish swiftly underneath his management, his push for a deal seems to return with controversial expectations. In an interview revealed Friday, he said: “Crimea will stay with Russia,” including that “Zelenskyy understands that.” Trump has beforehand pressured Ukraine to cede territory, regardless of Kyiv’s agency stance that no occupied land will probably be surrendered.
Speaking to reporters earlier than leaving for Rome, Trump reiterated his need for swift decision however stated there was no formal deadline. “I just want to do it as fast as possible,” he stated, including that negotiators had been “pretty close” to an settlement.
His go to to Rome, his first international journey since returning to the White House, coincides with mounting strain for a breakthrough. Despite his occasional rebukes of Putin, Trump has largely blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for prolonging the battle by resisting territorial concessions. On social media, he not too long ago urged Zelenskyy to “IMMEDIATELY” signal a pending settlement giving the US entry to Ukraine’s mineral assets.
Zelenskyy has remained agency, repeating that recognising Russian claims over Ukrainian territory, particularly Crimea, is a pink line. Russia, in the meantime, continues its assault. On Friday, a drone strike killed three civilians in southeastern Ukraine, the most recent in a collection of lethal assaults.