President Donald Trump says efforts to end the war between Russia and Ukraine may be making more progress than the public realizes, expressing optimism ahead of this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said his administration remains in contact with both Moscow and Kyiv as diplomatic efforts continue to seek a path toward ending the conflict.
Trump expresses optimism
Trump told reporters that he believes a resolution is “getting closer than people realize” and indicated the issue would be a major topic of discussion when NATO leaders meet.
He also said he recently held what he described as a productive phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy want the war to come to an end.
NATO summit in focus
Leaders from NATO member countries are gathering in Ankara for a two-day summit, where continued support for Ukraine, European security and defense spending are expected to dominate the agenda.
The conflict has remained one of the alliance’s top priorities since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Russia responds
Following Trump’s comments, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said the conflict could end more quickly if future negotiations build on previous discussions held between Washington and Moscow.
His remarks reflect Russia’s longstanding position that diplomatic progress depends on addressing key security concerns raised during earlier negotiations.
No agreement announced
Despite the optimistic tone, neither the United States, Russia nor Ukraine has announced a new peace agreement or confirmed that formal negotiations are nearing a conclusion.
Major differences remain over issues including territory, security guarantees and the conditions required for a lasting ceasefire.
What comes next?
The NATO summit is expected to provide another opportunity for allied leaders to discuss the next phase of support for Ukraine while exploring potential diplomatic options.
For now, Trump’s comments signal renewed optimism, but any breakthrough would still require agreement from both Russia and Ukraine on some of the conflict’s most difficult unresolved issues.
