WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has said efforts to end the war in Ukraine are closer to a breakthrough than at any point since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, following what he described as extensive talks with Ukrainian, Russian, and European leaders.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday, Trump said discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European heads of government had been “very long and very good,” raising hopes of a negotiated settlement. He added that he had also held multiple conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and believed both sides were seeking an end to the conflict, despite persistent challenges in aligning their positions.
A US official earlier briefed reporters that Washington was “really pleased” with progress made during talks in Europe, claiming around 90 percent of the issues between the parties had been addressed, though key disputes remain unresolved. Proposed security guarantees for Ukraine reportedly include “Article Five-like” assurances, echoing NATO’s collective defence clause, which Trump said he would be willing to submit to the US Senate for ratification.
Intensive negotiations involving Ukrainian, US, and European representatives have been underway in Berlin since Sunday. Officials said another round of talks is expected this weekend, potentially in Miami, as diplomatic efforts continue to push towards a ceasefire and a broader political settlement.
Earlier on Monday, Ukrainian officials said negotiations in Berlin involving President Volodymyr Zelensky, US envoys linked to President Donald Trump, and European representatives had made “real progress” towards ending the war. Ukraine’s chief negotiator Rustem Umerov described the talks as constructive, though major disagreements remain, including over territorial concessions and long-term security guarantees. European leaders have insisted any agreement must deliver what they describe as a “just peace,” amid reports that Washington continues to press Kyiv to cede control of parts of eastern Ukraine.
