Trump signals ‘big, beautiful agreement’ with Russia as Ukraine and Europe fear shift towards Moscow

Washington, November 6 - US President Donald Trump anticipates a forthcoming agreement with Russia that would encompass Ukraine and the entire European continent, after hosting officials from both nations at the White House. The President revealed that he had an unscheduled encounter with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev following his involvement in the event organized by the First Lady.

These remarks are likely to heighten concerns in Ukraine and Europe that Trump may be shifting towards the Kremlin for a more extensive deal, potentially reducing US military presence on the continent and granting Moscow greater influence. This comes a week before three-way talks between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States are scheduled to resume in Abu Dhabi for the first time since February.

Despite First Lady Melania Trump's call for a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine, her 80-year-old husband suggested that an unspecified "very big" deal was nearing completion. "I can't tell you what I discussed. But I'm just telling you, it's going to be an agreement, it's going to be a big agreement," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office when asked about his talks with Dmitriev.

"It's going to be very big. It's going to involve more than Ukraine, and I could even say it might involve all of Europe. It's going to be a big, beautiful agreement, and everyone's going to be thrilled." The President did not mention any meetings with Ukrainian officials who were also present at the White House on Thursday. The US President's attempts to bring an end to the war, which he vowed to resolve within 24 hours of his inauguration, have been inconsistent, yet his wife's quiet diplomatic efforts have intensified.

The unprecedented meeting between Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House aimed to build upon a localized six-day truce in the food-scarce Ukrainian city of Oleshky. Melania Trump, in her role as a peacemaker, plans to deliver personal letters to Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Ukrainian President Zelensky presented the First Lady with a national honor for her efforts in facilitating the Oleshky ceasefire.

Dmitriev expressed his gratitude to the First Lady on behalf of Putin for her "outstanding humanitarian role." The White House gathering also reunited Russia's human rights ombudsman Yana Lantratova, who has been sanctioned by Britain, with her Kyiv counterpart, Dmytro Lubinets, who developed a surprising friendship during the Oleshky truce.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv ahead of the Abu Dhabi talks, discussing "security guarantees for Ukraine and a broader European security architecture." Washington is also reportedly contemplating potential business collaborations with Russia as part of a comprehensive Ukraine agreement.