U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are interested in reaching a deal to end the ongoing conflict, emphasizing that any settlement will be unlikely without concessions from both sides.
During a Cabinet meeting at Camp David, Trump stated: "I think Zelensky wants to make a deal, and I think Putin wants to make a deal, but nobody wants to make concessions, and both will have to make some concessions."
Trump's remarks come amid continued military operations between Russia and Ukraine, with clashes ongoing on several fronts. Meanwhile, Moscow has recently announced its capture of a new town in eastern Ukraine, just days before a scheduled meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House.
These statements highlight the challenges faced in efforts to reach a political settlement at a time when Trump's administration is receiving criticism for a slow peace process, following his vow at the start of his second term to work on ending international conflicts.
This situation arises amid the persistent warfare in Ukraine and concurrent with other regional crises, adding complexity to diplomatic efforts aimed at halting the fighting and establishing a lasting agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.
This report is based on statements made by U.S. President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting, with no immediate response from the Russian or Ukrainian governments regarding his comments.