US President Donald Trump has announced that an agreement to end Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine is "closer than ever," following high-level discussions in Berlin involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders.
Despite these optimistic remarks, officials indicate that significant disagreements remain, particularly over territorial issues.
In a statement from the Oval Office on Monday, Trump described his conversations as "very long and very good" with Zelenskyy, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and NATO leaders. "We'll see what we can do. We want to save a lot of lives," Trump said.
Trump also claimed to have spoken directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin recently, asserting that Putin "wants to see it end." Trump expressed confidence that he could influence Putin to accept a NATO-like security guarantee for Ukraine, following nearly three days of negotiations with Kyiv’s delegation.
European officials have indicated support for a Europe-led “multinational force” inside Ukraine, designed to provide robust security guarantees. This force would operate within Ukraine, assist in rebuilding its military, secure its skies, and support safer maritime operations.
While the prospects for peace appear promising, analysts caution that the remaining differences, especially over territorial matters, could complicate efforts to reach a definitive agreement.
