On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump backed away from his previously set Thursday deadline for Ukraine to agree to a US-backed peace plan. During a conversation with reporters aboard Air Force One, en route to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, Trump commented on the state of US negotiations with both Russia and Ukraine. He expressed optimism, stating that significant progress was being made and that Moscow had conceded some points, although he did not elaborate on the specifics of these concessions.
Concerns have emerged regarding a US-based framework for resolving the ongoing conflict, which was initially reported last week. This framework has raised alarms that the Trump administration might be inclined to pressure Ukraine into signing a peace agreement that heavily favors Russian interests. Trump announced that his envoy, Steve Witkoff, would be traveling to Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Additionally, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who played a pivotal role in negotiating the recent Gaza ceasefire, is also involved in these discussions.
Previously, Trump had indicated that he wanted to see an agreement reached by the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday. However, both he and his aides have since moderated their stance, expressing a desire for an agreement to be reached as soon as possible rather than adhering to a strict deadline. Trump stated, “The deadline for me is when it’s over,” reflecting his broader view on the resolution of the conflict.
Bloomberg News reported a significant detail regarding Witkoff's communication with Yuri Ushakov, a senior foreign policy advisor to Putin. During an October 14 phone call, Witkoff suggested that both parties collaborate on a ceasefire plan for Ukraine and recommended that Putin present it to Trump. Additionally, there were recommendations for arranging a Trump-Putin call ahead of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House, leveraging the recent Gaza agreement as a potential negotiation tool.
When questioned about the Bloomberg report, Trump admitted he hadn’t listened to the recording that formed the basis of their story but expressed a degree of acceptance regarding Witkoff’s negotiation tactics. “That’s what a dealmaker does,” Trump remarked, indicating that such strategies are commonplace in negotiations. He suggested that Witkoff's approach was likely mirrored in communications with Ukraine.
In his assessment of the conflict, Trump indicated that Russia seemed to hold a favorable position in the ongoing war and emphasized that reaching an agreement would likely serve Ukraine's interests. He warned that some territories currently held by Ukraine could potentially be ceded to Russia in the coming months. Furthermore, Trump mentioned that security guarantees for Ukraine are actively being negotiated with European nations, highlighting the international dimension of the conflict.
As discussions continue, the situation remains dynamic, with both US and Ukrainian strategies evolving in response to the complexities of the conflict. The implications of Trump's statements and actions could significantly influence the trajectory of peace negotiations in the region.