President Donald Trump has said that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal” following high-level talks in Moscow between his envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin described the meeting as “constructive,” though Ukraine was notably excluded from the discussions.
Speaking in Rome ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis, President Trump told reporters that “most of the major points are agreed to,” urging both sides to meet at “very high levels” to finalize a peace agreement. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky maintains that only real pressure on Moscow will lead to an unconditional ceasefire.
Reports indicate that President Trump’s peace proposal favors Russia by allowing it to retain control over territories seized since 2014, including Crimea and much of Luhansk. President Trump has openly stated that he supports Russia’s claim to Crimea, a position firmly rejected by President Zelensky, who insists that only the Ukrainian people can decide their nation’s borders.
The proposed plan also reportedly blocks Ukraine’s accession to NATO, a key sticking point for Kyiv and European allies. European and Ukrainian counter-proposals demand that discussions about occupied territories only follow a ceasefire.
Despite President Trump’s optimism, there is growing skepticism. President Zelensky criticized Russia’s refusal to accept even a temporary Easter truce and warned that without pressure, no resolution can be achieved. He also accused Moscow of using imported missile components, many allegedly made by U.S. companies, in a deadly attack on Kyiv that killed 12 people.
Tensions have further escalated after a senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing in Moscow, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine though Kyiv has not commented.
President Trump said he is “putting a lot of pressure” on both sides and even posted a direct message to Putin on social media: “Vladimir STOP!” However, his recent remarks blaming Ukraine’s NATO ambitions for sparking the war have sparked controversy.
Although President Trump insists a deal is near, the gulf between Russian and Ukrainian positions suggests a lasting peace remains elusive.
