During his recent arrival in Italy for Pope Francis’s funeral, US President Donald Trump announced to reporters that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal.” This statement came shortly after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Trump characterized the negotiations as a “good day,” while the Kremlin referred to the talks, which notably excluded Ukrainian representation, as “constructive.” On social media, Trump emphasized that “most of the major points are agreed to,” urging both Russia and Ukraine to convene at “very high levels” to finalize the agreement.
Ukrainian President’s Stance and Recent Developments
In a video address issued late Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for “real pressure on Russia” to agree to an unconditional ceasefire. Earlier, he indicated to the BBC that discussions regarding territorial disputes between Kyiv and Moscow could be entertained contingent on a “full and unconditional ceasefire” being established.
Reports suggest that under a proposed US peace plan, Ukraine might be expected to relinquish significant territories annexed by Russia. Trump, while addressing reporters in Rome, expressed his support for Russia retaining the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed unlawfully in 2014—a notion Zelensky firmly opposes.
The conflict erupted in full force when Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Moscow now controlling nearly 20% of Ukrainian land.
Negotiations and International Reactions
On Friday, traffic in Moscow came to a standstill as Witkoff’s convoy arrived for the high-level discussions. This marks Witkoff’s fourth visit to Russia this year, with Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov labeling the three-hour talks as “very useful.” He noted that the discussions brought the “Russian and US positions closer together, not just on Ukraine but also on various international matters,” specifically mentioning the potential for resuming direct dialogue between Russian and Ukrainian representatives.
Putin’s recent comments indicated a newfound openness to negotiating with Zelensky, believed to be a response to the Ukrainian president’s proposal for a 30-hour Easter truce. However, no agreement for any truce has been finalized.
“Our position is unchanged – only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian,” Zelensky stated in response to Trump’s comments on Crimea.
Despite Trump’s assertions of a nearing agreement, substantial gaps remain between the positions of the US, Ukraine, and Europe on the peace plan. Reports indicate that the US proposal, which has not been officially disclosed, would grant legal acceptance of Russia’s annexation of Crimea and recognize Russian control over other occupied regions, including parts of Luhansk. In contrast, European and Ukrainian officials insist on discussing the fate of occupied territories only following a ceasefire.
As the situation evolves, Zelensky continues to advocate for increased international pressure on Russia. Following a deadly missile strike in Kyiv that resulted in multiple casualties, he criticized Russia’s military capabilities, suggesting they are being bolstered by imported components from countries like North Korea. He urged allies to act decisively to prevent further aggression.
Trump has stated his efforts to exert pressure on both sides to end the conflict, even directly addressing Putin in a social media post with a plea to “Vladimir STOP!” However, he has also attributed the war’s commencement to Ukraine’s aspirations of joining NATO, suggesting it provoked Russia’s actions.