US President Donald Trump says a possible agreement to end the Russia-Ukraine war may be closer after separate talks with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
US President Donald Trump has said that a possible deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war may be “getting closer than people realise.”
Trump made the statement after speaking separately with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend.
The comments came ahead of a major NATO summit in Turkey, where Ukraine is expected to be one of the main topics of discussion.
Trump did not give details about any peace plan or explain why he believes an agreement may be close.
His statement came at a difficult time for Ukraine, as Russia launched a major missile and drone attack on Kyiv and nearby areas overnight.
Ukrainian officials said at least 28 people were killed in the latest Russian attack. Rescue workers continued searching damaged buildings and clearing rubble in the capital.
The attack showed that despite talk of peace, the war remains active and dangerous for civilians.
Trump Spoke With Putin and Zelenskyy
Trump said he had spoken with both Putin and Zelenskyy.
The calls were seen as important because the United States has been trying to push for a political solution to the war.
The Russia-Ukraine war has continued for more than four years and has caused major destruction, deaths and displacement.
Millions of Ukrainians have been forced to leave their homes since the conflict began.
Russia controls parts of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine has continued to demand the return of its land.
These issues remain among the biggest obstacles to any peace agreement.
Trump said he would discuss Ukraine again during meetings at the NATO summit in Turkey.
The summit is expected to bring together leaders from NATO member countries, including the United States, European nations and other allies.
Russia Launches Fresh Attack on Kyiv
Trump’s comments came only hours after Russia carried out a major attack on Kyiv.
Russia used missiles and drones against the Ukrainian capital and nearby areas.
Ukrainian officials said several residential buildings were damaged.
Rescue teams were sent to different locations to search for people trapped under debris.
The attack also raised concern about Ukraine’s air defence system.
Ukraine has repeatedly asked Western countries for more Patriot missile systems and interceptor missiles.
Patriot systems are used to destroy incoming missiles before they reach cities.
Ukraine said it was unable to shoot down several ballistic missiles during the latest attack because of a shortage of interceptor missiles.
The latest strike has created pressure on NATO countries to provide more military support to Ukraine.
NATO Summit in Turkey
The NATO summit in Turkey is expected to focus on Ukraine, defence spending and security in Europe.
Trump is expected to meet leaders from NATO countries and discuss the future of US support for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy is also expected to push for more military aid and stronger air defence systems.
Ukraine wants more weapons, ammunition and financial support to continue defending itself.
Russia has criticised NATO support for Ukraine and says Western military aid is making the war longer.
NATO countries say they are helping Ukraine protect itself from Russian attacks.
The summit may also discuss whether there is any possibility of restarting peace negotiations.
Ukraine Wants Security Guarantees
Ukraine has said that any peace deal must include strong security guarantees.
The country wants protection against future Russian attacks.
Ukraine has also said it cannot accept a deal that allows Russia to keep occupied Ukrainian territory permanently.
Russia has demanded that Ukraine accept some territorial changes and reduce its military ties with NATO.
These demands have made negotiations very difficult.
Even if leaders agree to begin talks, reaching a final peace agreement could take a long time.
There are also questions about who would monitor a ceasefire and how both sides would follow the agreement.
War Continues to Affect Global Economy
The Russia-Ukraine war has affected countries around the world.
Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, corn and other food products.
Russia is a major supplier of oil, gas and fertilisers.
The war has affected food prices, energy prices and global trade.
European countries have tried to reduce their dependence on Russian energy.
Many countries have also increased defence spending because of concerns about security.
The war has created uncertainty for businesses, investors and governments.
What Happens Next
Trump’s statement has created new attention around possible peace talks.
However, the latest Russian attack on Kyiv shows that the situation remains serious.
The NATO summit in Turkey may provide more clarity about whether the United States and its allies will push for negotiations or continue focusing on military support for Ukraine.
For now, Trump has said a solution may be closer, but no official peace agreement or ceasefire has been announced.