Trump says Zelenskyy, Putin ready for peace deal

Washington DC

US President Donald Trump claimed that both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin are ready to reach a peace agreement, suggesting possible movement toward ending the long-running Russia-Ukraine war.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said, “Zelenskyy is ready to make a deal. And I think that President Putin is ready to make a deal,” adding that such a deal could halt the killing of thousands of soldiers weekly. “There’s a lot of good conversation about Ukraine and Russia,” he noted.

Trump also revealed that Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, was in the United States recently, although he did not specify the nature of any discussions. “We have an envoy from Russia. We're talking about it,” Trump said, reiterating his desire to stop the war as soon as possible.

“We’re spearheading the drive to get it done,” Trump added. “Europe has not been successful in dealing with President Putin, but I think I will be successful.”

The comments come amid a significant increase in Russian military conscription. As reported by CNN, President Putin signed a decree initiating Russia’s spring conscription drive, enlisting 160,000 men aged 18 to 30—a notable rise from previous years. This move signals Russia’s continued commitment to the conflict despite mounting casualties.

The war has claimed the lives of thousands of Ukrainian and Russian soldiers each month, drawing widespread international condemnation. Trump’s comments may signal the beginning of a renewed U.S.-led diplomatic effort, although no official peace framework has yet been announced by Washington or its allies.