Trump says US seeing 'strong inclination' to end Russia's war in Ukraine
"We're having a very good conversation about that in Abu Dhabi," Trump told reporters on the eve of US-led, three-sided talks there.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States is observing a strong desire to bring an end to Russia's war in Ukraine. Speaking at the White House on the eve of US-led, three-sided talks in Abu Dhabi, Trump indicated that both Russia and Ukraine are weary of the ongoing conflict. "We're having a very good conversation about that in Abu Dhabi," Trump told reporters.
The goal of ending the war that began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022 has not been achieved thus far. Trump had initially pledged to end the conflict upon taking office in January 2025, but the challenge remains unresolved. Both Russia and Ukraine have reportedly shown some flexibility privately regarding the possibility of exchanging territory prior to the talks in Abu Dhabi, according to a US official.
The official briefing reporters ahead of the talks emphasized that security guarantees for Ukraine would be a significant topic of discussion, including the potential for a NATO-style Article 5 defense for Kyiv. Both Ukraine and Russia have staunchly defended their territorial claims, with Ukraine seeking to push Russia back to the original border, while Russia's President Vladimir Putin aims to secure control over the Donbas region.
In a positive development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that battlefield successes and mounting Russian losses have bolstered Ukraine's position in negotiations. The first mediation talks since February, aimed at ending the war now in its fourth and a half year, will be the first step towards a potential resolution to the conflict.
US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to lead the US mediation efforts in the Abu Dhabi discussions, scheduled for two days. While the official acknowledged that negotiations would require time, there was a sense of cautious optimism on the US side that progress could be made. Additionally, the official mentioned that there was a possibility for the envoys to travel to Russia at some point following the talks to engage with President Putin.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
