U.S. President Donald Trump’s declaration that a comprehensive peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is “very close” follows a series of diplomatic developments at the White House, including a humanitarian initiative involving First Lady Melania Trump.
The developments build on a localized six-day humanitarian ceasefire in Oleshky, a southern Ukrainian city, which Melania Trump helped broker in October.
The temporary ceasefire ran from October 27 to November 1 and allowed for the evacuation of nearly 800 civilians from the besieged, Russian-occupied city of Oleshky in Ukraine’s Kherson region, as well as the delivery of critical food and medical supplies.
Senior officials from both countries attended on Thursday, including Dmitriev; Yana Lantratova, Russia’s human rights commissioner; David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People party in Ukraine’s parliament; and Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine’s parliamentary human rights commissioner.
The initiative brought Russian and Ukrainian representatives together in Washington for a diplomatic gathering aimed at building on the truce. The US president did not attend the event.
Trump’s meeting with Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev further highlighted the administration’s diplomatic efforts, with the president suggesting that a broader framework to end the conflict may finally be coming into view.
Describing the potential accord as a “big, beautiful agreement”, Trump indicated that its scope could extend beyond a bilateral settlement between Moscow and Kyiv, potentially encompassing wider European security arrangements.
“There’s going to be an agreement. It’s going to be a big agreement, and it’s going to involve more than Ukraine,” Trump said, adding that the effort could include “all of Europe”.
He also underscored the enormous human cost of the conflict, pointing to the heavy monthly casualties on both sides as a compelling reason for the war to end.
Despite expressing confidence that a settlement is approaching, Trump has not outlined specific terms, a timeline or an official framework for the proposed agreement.
He has repeatedly predicted that an end to Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II was close, although negotiations have gained momentum in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, a visiting Ukrainian delegation, including parliamentary faction leader Davyd Arakhamia, was in Washington for the humanitarian events.
Trump confirmed that he did not meet the Ukrainian officials on Thursday, leaving questions about how Kyiv and its European allies might respond to the emerging outline of a broader peace deal.
