US President Donald Trump has said he is close to reaching a deal with Russia on Ukraine that could involve the entire continent, following closed-door talks at the White House with Vladimir Putin's top envoy, Kirill Dmitriev. However, he has not yet held similar discussions with representatives from Ukraine.
Calling the pact a "big, beautiful agreement", Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that it "might involve all of Europe". He declined to reveal details of the deal, sparking concerns that Kyiv could be excluded from decisions on its own future.
No Talks with Kyiv Yet
Trump said: "I can't tell you what I discussed, but I'm just telling you it's going to be an agreement, it's gonna be a big agreement, and it's going to involve more than Ukraine."
He added: "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." Asked if the war could finally end, he replied: "I do."
The president has previously described the conflict as a "bloodbath", claiming about 25,000 people were dying every month as fighting continued.
Diplomatic Moves and Reactions
Trump's comments came after First Lady Melania Trump hosted officials from both warring nations at the White House. She has been working on a humanitarian mission and brokered a brief truce in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky.
On the same day, Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner was in Brussels holding talks with Ukrainian, NATO and European officials on security guarantees for Ukraine and a broader European security architecture.
Russia and Ukraine remain divided over territory and security guarantees, with drones and missiles still striking both sides. The UK Government has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, and at the recent G20 meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stressed the need "to secure just and lasting peace in Ukraine". Hundreds of British troops and RAF jets are due to take part in a major multinational wargame in Poland to prepare for potential peace in Ukraine.
