Trump cites "progress" toward ending Russia-Ukraine war.
US President says progress is being made towards a diplomatic solution and cites direct contact with Vladimir Putin.
247 - During a dinner at the White House with Central Asian leaders, US President Donald Trump declared that there is "progress" in negotiations to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This information was published by [source missing]. RTwhich also highlighted the work of US special envoy Steve Witkoff, who has participated in rounds of dialogue with Moscow throughout the year.
Trump reaffirmed his promise to mediate an end to the war, expressing optimism after months of diplomatic stalemate. "We're looking at another [agreement], it's possible – Russia and Ukraine. We haven't achieved it yet, but I believe we've made a lot of progress," the US president stated during the event.
The US president also commented on a recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, the Russian leader assured him that Moscow has been seeking a peaceful solution for over a decade and welcomes any effort by Washington to convince Kiev to accept a negotiated solution.
Special envoy Steve Witkoff, who participated in the same business forum, reinforced the optimistic tone by mentioning the meetings he had with Putin. “There are many technical discussions that need to take place at lower levels before the leaders can reach an agreement. But I feel there is some progress today,” he stated.
Moscow, for its part, has publicly praised the Trump administration's stance, describing it as a genuine attempt to address the root causes of the conflict. The Kremlin, however, emphasizes that it seeks a lasting solution and not just a temporary ceasefire, which, according to Russian officials, would allow Ukrainian forces to regroup and rearm.
Meanwhile, Kyiv and its European allies continue to call for greater military support from the West. Russia accuses Ukraine of resisting any attempt at meaningful dialogue and of refusing to acknowledge the current situation on the battlefield.
Last month, Moscow claimed to have surrounded some 10 Ukrainian soldiers in strategic positions and urged Volodymyr Zelensky's government to accept an "honorable" surrender of the blocked troops. Kyiv, on the other hand, denies the allegations and insists it maintains control of the cities involved, accusing Moscow of exaggerating its advances.
The Russian Defense Ministry responded to Zelensky's statements by claiming that the Ukrainian president was "disconnected from reality" or "deliberately lying to his population." This narrative dispute reflects the ongoing impasse both diplomatically and on the front lines, even amid signs that Washington is attempting to reopen negotiation channels.
