United States President, Donald Trump, has said a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine could be reached soon, following a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, at the White House in Washington, DC.
Trump made the remarks while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, expressing optimism about ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. However, he did not provide details of his discussion with Dmitriev.
“I think we’re going to be very close to settling Russia-Ukraine,” Trump said.
The US president also suggested that the proposed agreement could extend beyond the two warring countries, potentially involving other European nations.
“There’s going to be an agreement. It’s going to be a big agreement, and it’s going to involve more than Ukraine,” Trump said, adding that the effort could include “all of Europe”.
Despite his renewed optimism, Trump has repeatedly predicted that a deal to end the war, which has become Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II, was imminent.
Negotiations have reportedly gained momentum in recent weeks, although a final agreement remains elusive.
Trump also disclosed that he did not meet with a visiting Ukrainian delegation on Thursday.
His meeting with Dmitriev followed a diplomatic gathering hosted by US First Lady Melania Trump at the White House, where Russian and Ukrainian representatives met to build on a recent humanitarian ceasefire in the southern Ukrainian city of Oleshky.
The six-day truce, which ran from October 27 to November 1, facilitated the evacuation of nearly 800 civilians from the besieged Russian-occupied city in Ukraine’s Kherson region.
It also enabled the delivery of essential food and medical supplies to residents.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries, including Dmitriev, Russia’s human rights commissioner Yana Lantratova, Ukrainian parliamentarian David Arakhamia and Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets.
Melania Trump, who played a role in facilitating the humanitarian ceasefire, urged both sides to pursue a more lasting resolution to the conflict.
“Together, we can create something more enduring than a temporary ceasefire,” she said, describing the truce in Oleshky “as a spark in a world of darkness”.
During the gathering, the first lady presented large white envelopes containing personal letters for Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, asking representatives of both leaders to deliver them.
Dmitriev also presented Melania Trump with a painting made by an 11-year-old girl, while Zelenskyy sent her the Order of Princess Olga, a Ukrainian honour recognising her contribution to the ceasefire.
