US President Donald Trump indicates that a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict could be imminent, even as tensions persist between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In remarks to reporters at the White House on Friday, Trump highlighted the personal rift complicating talks.
“Zelenskyy and Putin hate each other, and it makes it very difficult,” Trump stated. He expressed optimism, adding, “But I think we’re getting very close to getting a settlement. I think that we have a good chance of getting it settled.”
Trump’s Direct Outreach to Putin
Trump disclosed a recent conversation with Putin, where he urged a brief halt to strikes on Kyiv and other urban areas due to harsh winter weather gripping the region. During a Cabinet meeting, Trump shared, “I personally asked President Putin not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week, and he agreed to do that.”
He portrayed the dialogue as constructive, noting resistance from advisors. “A lot of people said, ‘Don’t waste the call, you’re not going to get that.’ And he did it,” Trump recounted. The president attributed the request to extreme conditions, describing them as “extraordinary cold. Record-setting cold,” similar to a recent freeze in Washington.
Ongoing Conflict and Warnings
Despite these efforts, hostilities persist. Ukrainian authorities reported three fatalities from a Russian drone strike in the southern Zaporizhzhia region overnight Thursday. Zelenskyy has cautioned that Russia might launch a major new assault.
Prospects for Peace Talks
These updates precede US-facilitated negotiations scheduled for the weekend. The Kremlin has extended an invitation to Zelenskyy for discussions in Moscow to resolve the nearly four-year war. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov announced Thursday that Moscow serves as a potential host site.
The overture follows a trilateral summit last week in Abu Dhabi involving representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. In an interview with the Russian news agency TASS, Peskov affirmed Moscow’s preparedness for additional rounds. Senior official Yuri Ushakov emphasized that Russia would ensure Zelenskyy’s safety and handle all logistics if he accepts the invitation.
