'Major points agreed to': Trump claims Russia-Ukraine ceasefire 'very close'

US President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that Russia and Ukraine are nearing a ceasefire agreement, saying "most of the major points are agreed to" and urging both sides to hold high-level talks to "finish it off".
Posting from Rome on Friday, where he is attending the funeral of Pope Francis, Trump took to Truth Social saying, “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.’ 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!”

His remarks came shortly after his envoy, Steve Witkoff, held a three-hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed the talks were “constructive” and included a “discussion on the possibility of renewing direct negotiations” with Ukraine, signalling a rare alignment between US and Russian positions. Ukrainian and Russian delegations have not met for direct negotiations since the early months of the war, which began in February 2022.

While Trump has insisted the war could end swiftly under his leadership, his push for a deal appears to come with controversial expectations. In an interview published Friday, he stated: “Crimea will stay with Russia,” adding that “Zelenskyy understands that.” Trump has previously pressured Ukraine to cede territory, despite Kyiv’s firm stance that no occupied land will be surrendered.
Speaking to reporters before leaving for Rome, Trump reiterated his desire for swift resolution but said there was no formal deadline. “I just want to do it as fast as possible,” he said, adding that negotiators were “pretty close” to an agreement.
His visit to Rome, his first foreign trip since returning to the White House, coincides with mounting pressure for a breakthrough. Despite his occasional rebukes of Putin, Trump has largely blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for prolonging the war by resisting territorial concessions. On social media, he recently urged Zelenskyy to “IMMEDIATELY” sign a pending agreement giving the US access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
Zelenskyy has remained firm, repeating that recognising Russian claims over Ukrainian territory, especially Crimea, is a red line. Russia, meanwhile, continues its assault. On Friday, a drone strike killed three civilians in southeastern Ukraine, the latest in a series of deadly attacks.