Trump announces ‘real possibilities’ for end of Ukraine-Russia war, discrepancies emerge in statements

US President Donald Trump talks about progress in negotiations with Vladimir Putin, but the White House clarifies that there has been no direct talks. Meanwhile, diplomatic attempts for a 30-day truce continue

Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that there is a ‘very good chance’ that the war between Ukraine and Russia could finally come to an end, citing ‘very positive and productive’ discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, the White House later clarified that Trump did not have direct talks with the Russian leader: it was special envoy Steve Witkoff who spoke with Putin.

The confusion stemmed from a post in which Trump, without mentioning his envoy, wrote: ‘I strongly asked President Putin’, suggesting that he had spoken directly with the Russian leader. In the same message, the US president expressed concern about Ukrainian soldiers who he said were surrounded by the Russian military in the Kursk region. Trump said he asked Putin to prevent a massacre, comparing it to the horrors of World War II.

However, the Ukrainian military has denied these claims, denying that its forces are encircled in the Russian Kursk region. Meanwhile, Russia has claimed the ‘liberation’ of 28 locations in the Kursk region, the scene of clashes, and control of a settlement in the Ukrainian region of Sumy.

At the diplomatic level, the US proposed a 30-day truce, accepted by Kiev. Putin, on the other hand, responded with reservations, setting several conditions related to the situation on the ground. According to the Russian leader, the Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region are isolated and have only two options: ‘Surrender or die’.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Putin of sabotaging diplomacy by imposing conditions that hinder ceasefire negotiations. Zelensky stressed that Ukraine is ready to take the first steps towards peace, but urged the international community to put more pressure on Russia.

Meanwhile, Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, expressed ‘cautious optimism’ about the ongoing negotiations, while acknowledging that there are still many uncertainties. He reiterated that it is not a matter of trust in Putin, but of concrete actions by both factions.

The situation remains complex, with the Kursk region in particular difficulty, but with a glimmer of hope for a possible truce that could halt the escalation of the conflict.

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