U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal,” following high-level discussions between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The talks, which did not include Ukrainian representatives, were described by the Kremlin as “constructive.”
Speaking aboard Air Force One en route to Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral, Trump said it had been “a good day” for negotiations and hinted that most of the major issues had been settled. “Now it’s time for Russia and Ukraine to meet at very high levels and finish it off,” he posted earlier on social media.
The proposed deal, reportedly drafted under U.S. mediation, is said to include Ukraine ceding significant portions of territory currently held by Russian forces. Trump has voiced support for Russia’s retention of Crimea, annexed in 2014—a stance firmly rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a video address late Friday, Zelensky stressed that “real pressure on Russia is needed” to bring about an unconditional ceasefire. Earlier in the day, he told the BBC that any talks about territorial disputes could only follow a complete and unqualified halt to hostilities.
Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022 and continues to occupy nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. While optimism grows in Washington and Moscow, Kyiv remains cautious, warning that peace must not come at the cost of sovereignty.
