This follows the meeting between U.S. special envoy Steven Wykoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Friday.
President Donald Trump announced on social media on Friday that Russia and Ukraine are nearing a peace agreement that could conclude the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The publication comes after U.S. special envoy Steven Wykoff’s discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia on Friday. Putin’s assistant, Yuri Ushakov, characterized the three-hour conversation as ‘constructive’ and ‘highly beneficial,’ although additional specifics were not disclosed, according to Russia’s news agency TASS.
According to Trump, following his arrival in Rome for Pope Francis’s funeral, the two parties are nearing an agreement and should convene at senior levels to finalize the details.
Trump stated that the majority of the key issues have been settled, although he did not provide specifics, while urging both countries to cease the violence and bring the conflict to a conclusion.
Ushakov stated that the discussion centered on the potential for reinstating direct negotiations between delegates of the Russian Federation and Ukraine. Wykoff has not made any public remarks regarding the meeting as of yet.
According to Ushakov, this dialogue enabled Russia and the United States to align their stances more closely, not only regarding Ukraine but also on various other global matters.
Steven Cheung, the communications director of the White House, stated, ‘President Trump and President Zelenskyy engaged in a private meeting today, which resulted in a highly productive dialogue. Further information regarding the meeting will be provided shortly.’
On Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov informed CBS News that Russia is prepared to finalize an agreement; however, he noted that certain specific aspects of this deal require further refinement.
The President of the United States is of the opinion, and I concur, that we are progressing positively, as stated by Lavrov during an interview on CBS News’ ‘Face the Nation’; however, he refrained from offering additional information.
Zelenskyy previously asserted that the conflict cannot be settled without exerting pressure on Russia to accept an unconditional cease-fire.
The insufficient pressure exerted on Russia enables them to procure missiles and other armaments, which they are then able to deploy in Europe. He emphasized the necessity for Russia to promptly and unconditionally consent to a complete ceasefire.
Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine accepted a cease-fire proposal from the United States 45 days prior and presented a direct request to Russia to cease attacks on civilian areas, which was declined by Russia.
The conflict in Ukraine has persisted since February 2022, when President Putin deployed thousands of troops for a comprehensive invasion. On April 19, Putin announced an ‘Easter truce,’ instructing his military to cease all operations until midnight on April 20. Subsequently, both parties accused one another of breaching the truce.
Zelenskyy stated that he had requested Russia to prolong the ceasefire beyond Easter, but his appeal was declined. The Russian military announced on April 21 that it has recommenced the ‘special military operation’ following the conclusion of the truce.
The Trump administration has indicated that Ukraine might have to consider territorial concessions in order to reach a settlement with Russia to conclude the current conflict. In a discussion with Time magazine, Trump stated that the Crimean Peninsula will continue to be governed by Russia.
In an interview with Time published on April 25, Trump stated, “Crimea will remain part of Russia.” He added, “Zelensky is aware of this, and it is clear to everyone that Crimea has been associated with Russia for an extended period.”
Trump expressed skepticism regarding Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO, asserting that Ukraine’s efforts to join the alliance have played a role in the ongoing conflict.
He stated that the initiation of the war was likely triggered by discussions regarding NATO membership. He believed that if this topic had not been raised, the likelihood of the conflict commencing would have been significantly reduced.
Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his stance against Ukraine officially acknowledging Russian authority over any of its regions.
On April 18, Trump informed reporters that the U.S. government would cease its attempts to facilitate a resolution to the conflict if either party declined to engage in negotiations for a peace agreement.
