Trump says Russia-Ukraine deal is near after meeting Kremlin envoy
The president spoke in the Oval Office following a separate event hosted by his wife that brought officials from both nations to Washington.
By Bianca Herrera ·
A large settlement of the war in Ukraine is likely within days, President Donald Trump told reporters on Thursday.
Trump made the comment in the Oval Office after meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, a special envoy for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The president said the upcoming agreement would be substantial and might extend beyond the two warring nations. He stated that the deal could involve "all of Europe." Trump declined to share specific details from his conversation with Dmitriev.
The White House meeting occurred the same day as a diplomatic gathering hosted by First Lady Melania Trump. She brought senior officials from Russia and Ukraine together to discuss a recent humanitarian pause. The White House called the event a first in American history for a First Lady to host representatives of two nations at war. Melania Trump was not in the Oval Office when her husband spoke to the press.
The gathering centered on a six-day truce in the Ukrainian city of Oleshky. That temporary ceasefire lasted from October 27 to November 1. During that window, nearly 800 civilians left the besieged, Russian-occupied city in the Kherson region. Aid workers also delivered food and medical supplies to the area.
Both countries sent high-ranking officials to the event. For Russia, attendees included Dmitriev and Yana Lantratova, the human rights commissioner. Ukraine sent David Arakhamia, the leader of the Servant of the People party, and Dmytro Lubinets, the parliamentary human rights commissioner. The Ukrainian delegation did not meet with President Trump on Thursday.
Melania Trump urged the leaders to view the Oleshky truce as a start rather than an end. She described it as a "spark in a world of darkness." She presented Dmitriev and the Ukrainian representatives with white envelopes containing personal letters for Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy. In return, Dmitriev gave her a painting by an 11-year-old girl. Zelenskyy sent her the Order of Princess Olga to recognize her role in arranging the ceasefire.
Trump has previously predicted that a final deal was close. He has not disclosed the terms of the agreement he expects to be announced soon.
