US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal” to end the ongoing war, following high-level talks in Moscow between his envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has insisted that “real pressure” is needed on Moscow to secure peace, and reiterated demands for a full, unconditional ceasefire.
Speaking to reporters en route to the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome on Saturday, Trump hailed the talks as a “good day” for diplomacy, despite Ukraine not being invited to participate. He stated on social media that “most of the major points are agreed to”, and urged both sides to meet “at very high levels” to finalise a deal.
The Kremlin described the three-hour talks with Witkoff, which marked his fourth visit to Russia this year, as “constructive”. Aides said discussions brought Russian and US positions “closer together”, not only on Ukraine but also on wider international issues.
Yuri Ushakov, a senior Putin adviser, said the talks included “the possibility of resuming direct talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives”. He did not indicate when or where such talks might occur.
Zelensky, speaking in his nightly address, said Ukraine remained committed to dialogue, but stressed that any negotiations must begin with an end to violence. “Only a full and unconditional ceasefire opens up the possibility to discuss everything,” he told the BBC earlier on Friday.
The proposed US peace deal, which has not been formally released, is believed to involve Ukraine ceding significant territory currently under Russian occupation, including recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. Trump has expressed support for Moscow’s retention of the peninsula, which it annexed illegally in 2014 — a position firmly rejected by Kyiv.
“Our position is unchanged — only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian,” Zelensky said.
Despite the push for peace, fighting continues to rage. Russia currently occupies nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory. A missile strike on Kyiv on Thursday killed 12 people and wounded dozens more. Zelensky accused Russia of using ballistic missiles manufactured with parts imported from abroad — including from the United States.
“Insufficient pressure on North Korea and its allies allows them to make such ballistic missiles,” he said, claiming that at least 116 parts of the missile came from foreign countries, with “most made by US companies”.
Trump, responding to the strike, posted a message on social media addressed directly to Putin: “Vladimir STOP!”
Yet, in comments to Time magazine, Trump appeared to place blame on Ukraine for the war’s origins, saying: “I think what caused the war to start was when they [Ukraine] started talking about joining Nato.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky accused Moscow of stalling a proposed 30-day ceasefire during the Easter period, despite Ukraine having agreed to the US-brokered proposal on 11 March. “It’s been 45 days since Ukraine agreed to President Trump’s proposal for quiet in the sky, sea and the frontline,” he wrote on social media. “Russia rejects all this. Without pressure, this cannot be resolved.”
Reuters reports that it has seen confidential US proposals, alongside counter-offers from European governments and Ukraine. According to the report, the American plan accepts Russian control of Crimea and other occupied areas such as the Luhansk region, and rules out Ukraine’s future Nato membership. The European and Ukrainian responses reportedly insist that territorial matters be discussed only after a ceasefire.
Complicating the situation further, the talks in Moscow occurred just hours after a senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing in the capital. The Kremlin has blamed Ukraine for the assassination, although Kyiv has made no public comment.
Adding a commercial dimension to tensions, Trump criticised Zelensky for failing to sign a long-anticipated rare earth minerals deal with the US, claiming the Ukrainian leader had delayed the agreement by three weeks. The deal would give the US access to Ukraine’s rich natural resource deposits.
The prospect of peace remains uncertain. While Moscow signals cautious openness to talks, Ukraine continues to call for greater international pressure to ensure any future deal does not come at the cost of its sovereignty.
Follow us on:
