Post by : Rameen Ariff

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, even though negotiations between Moscow and US representatives ended without a deal.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, along with his son-in-law Jared Kushner, spent long hours negotiating at the Kremlin. Despite their efforts, no breakthrough was reached to resolve Europe’s most devastating conflict since World War II.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump described the meeting with Putin as “very good” and said the US team came away with the impression that the Russian leader would like to end the war. “Their impression was very strongly that he’d like to make a deal,” Trump added.

Witkoff and Kushner presented an updated US plan, which proposed that Ukraine cede parts of the eastern Donbas region and agree not to join NATO. While Kyiv largely supported the proposal, Moscow rejected parts of it as unacceptable. Kremlin officials stressed that Russia remains open to diplomacy despite recent battlefield gains and the ongoing war.

Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov noted that Russia’s recent military successes in eastern Ukraine influenced the negotiations. Russian troops have advanced in the region over the past month, and President Putin has warned that Moscow is prepared to continue fighting to claim all disputed territories if Ukraine does not comply.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Russia is willing to continue talks, emphasizing that diplomacy is still possible. Meanwhile, NATO continues to provide military support to Ukraine, supplying hundreds of millions of dollars worth of arms to Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said that while peace talks are encouraging, the alliance must ensure that Ukraine remains strong enough to defend itself.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that there is now a potential window for peace but emphasized that international pressure on Russia must accompany any negotiations. “The world now clearly feels that there is an opportunity to end the war, and the current activity in negotiations must be supported by pressure on Russia,” Zelensky said.

The recent talks have also raised concerns among European nations, which fear that the US and Russia might reach agreements without sufficient consultation with Kyiv. European countries have been working to adjust the US plan to ensure Ukraine is not forced to surrender.

Despite the diplomatic uncertainty, Trump remains optimistic about a resolution, pointing out that the opportunity for peace existed earlier this year when he discussed options directly with President Zelensky.

As the war continues, Russian forces are gradually advancing along the front lines, with ongoing clashes in key locations such as Pokrovsk. Observers say the situation remains fluid, with international diplomacy playing a critical role in shaping the conflict’s future.

#Global News