U.S. President Donald Trump has said negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine are making progress, though significant and complex issues still need to be resolved before any final agreement can be reached. Speaking after recent discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump described the talks as moving in a positive direction but cautioned that several difficult matters continue to pose challenges.
Trump said the United States and Ukraine were “getting closer” to a possible peace framework, suggesting that large parts of a proposed deal are already agreed. However, he stressed that unresolved issues, particularly those related to territory and long-term security arrangements, remain sensitive and hard to settle. He referred to these as “thorny issues” that would require further negotiations and careful handling.
Zelenskyy also struck a cautiously optimistic tone, saying there had been meaningful progress in talks with Washington and allied partners. He emphasized, however, that Ukraine’s position on sovereignty and territorial integrity had not changed, and that any peace agreement would have to respect Ukrainian law and the will of its people. Ukrainian officials have consistently stated that questions over occupied territories cannot be resolved hastily or without broad national consent.
The talks come as fighting continues on the ground, with renewed Russian strikes reported in several regions of Ukraine. Analysts say the ongoing violence underscores the difficulty of translating diplomatic progress into an immediate ceasefire. Trump acknowledged that discussions with Russia would be essential, indicating that further engagement with President Vladimir Putin would be needed before a comprehensive settlement could be achieved.
European allies have been closely monitoring the talks, with several leaders calling for strong security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any deal. Diplomatic sources say further meetings involving European partners are expected in the coming weeks to help narrow remaining differences and coordinate international support.
While Trump expressed confidence that it would soon become clear whether a deal is achievable, he stopped short of giving a timeline. Observers note that despite signs of progress, the unresolved “thorny issues” highlight how fragile and complex the path to ending the war remains.
English