Russia and Ukraine near peace deal as Trump urges resolution
Russia and Ukraine are close to an agreement, wrote US President Donald Trump on Friday evening on the Truth Social platform. The President, accompanied by the First Lady, landed in Rome, having arrived for the funeral of Pope Francis.
"Just landed in Rome. A good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to "finish it off," wrote Trump.
Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW. We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war!
On Friday in Moscow, Russian leader Vladimir Putin met with the US President's envoy Steve Witkoff. According to the Kremlin, both parties managed to narrow the differences between America and Russia regarding the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump: Crimea will stay with Russia
The Reuters agency also reported on Friday that the American proposals concerning the conditions of a truce in Ukraine include, among other things, recognising Crimea as part of Russia. Meanwhile, Trump stated in an interview with Time magazine that Crimea will stay with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had previously rejected the possibility of legally recognising the occupation of Crimea, emphasising that it would be contrary to Ukraine's constitution. On Wednesday, Trump stated that Zelensky's exclusion of legal recognition of the peninsula's annexation is very detrimental to peace negotiations. He also noted that no one is asking Ukraine to recognise the annexation, while at the same time pointing out that Ukraine did not put up military resistance to Russia before the peninsula's occupation.
