Trump signals optimism on revised Ukraine peace deal after talks with Russia
President Donald Trump is expressing renewed optimism that a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine may be within reach.
(NBC)- President Donald Trump is expressing renewed optimism that a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine may be within reach, following meetings between senior U.S. officials and a Russian delegation in the United Arab Emirates.
“We’re having good talks… we’re making progress,” Trump said, after posting on social media that “tremendous progress has been made.” The White House says negotiators have been refining an earlier proposal that faced bipartisan criticism for being too favorable to Russia.
An updated version of the plan has now been “fine-tuned” with input from both sides, according to the administration. One U.S. official told NBC News that Ukraine has “all but agreed” to the revised terms.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said adjustments were made following discussions in Geneva, adding, “That framework is on the table and we are ready to move forward.”
Russia, however, is threatening to abandon negotiations over the changes. The original draft reportedly called for Ukraine to surrender about one-fifth of its territory, limit its military, and halt its pursuit of NATO membership — all positions Kyiv has rejected.
Trump now says he is sending a top envoy to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, while other officials travel to Ukraine. He also suggested Ukraine should consider a deal, warning the war could drag on for years.
“Russia’s got a lot more people. A lot more soldiers,” Trump said. “If Ukraine can make a deal, it’s a good thing.”
The former president says he will only meet with Putin and Zelenskyy once an agreement is finalized.
In a separate development, two sources tell NBC News the U.S. Army Secretary delivered a stark private warning to Ukrainian officials, suggesting the country faces potential battlefield defeat and should negotiate soon. Zelenskyy has maintained that Ukraine will not stand down until Russia “shuts down its war machine.”
