Trump Says Ukraine Peace Deal Is Closer Ahead of NATO Summit Talks

U.S. President Donald Trump said a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war may be closer than many believe as he prepares to discuss the conflict during this week’s NATO summit in Ankara, where he is expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskiy want the war to end. His remarks came after separate weekend phone calls with both leaders, including an 85-minute conversation with Putin that the Kremlin described as constructive and focused on exploring paths toward peace.

“I think we’re getting much closer than people realize,” Trump told reporters, adding that discussions at the NATO summit could help move negotiations forward. A U.S. official said Trump’s meeting with Zelenskiy on Wednesday is intended to renew diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with another conversation with Putin likely to follow.

Despite Trump’s optimistic outlook, Russia launched another large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv and surrounding areas overnight, killing at least 28 people and highlighting the ongoing intensity of the war.

The Kremlin signaled confidence in Trump’s approach. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow believes the U.S. president has maintained a consistent position on Ukraine and remains open to hearing Russia’s perspective. He dismissed speculation that Trump’s views on the conflict have shifted.

Meanwhile, Zelenskiy said his recent phone call with Trump was “very good” and suggested the U.S. president now has a stronger appreciation of Ukraine’s recent military successes. In an interview with the Financial Times, Zelenskiy said Trump acknowledged Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which have contributed to fuel shortages inside Russia.

According to Zelenskiy, Trump is increasingly focused on achieving a successful outcome and believes ending the war would strengthen his leadership ahead of the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The Ukrainian president has also continued efforts to improve relations with Trump following their highly publicized Oval Office confrontation last year.

As diplomatic efforts continue, global attention is now focused on the NATO summit, where discussions could shape the next phase of negotiations aimed at ending Europe’s longest-running conflict in decades.