Breaking News: Trump Urges Zelensky to Make a Deal with Putin, Offers to Mediate Talks

Breaking News: Trump Urges Zelensky to Make a Deal with Putin, Offers to Mediate Talks

US President Donald Trump has called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to "make a deal" with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This comes after a three-hour meeting between Trump and Putin in Anchorage, their first summit since 2018.

According to Trump, the two leaders are "pretty close" to resolving the conflict, but Kiev needs to be on board with the push for peace. Trump expressed his willingness to facilitate direct talks between Putin and Zelensky, stating, "If they'd like, I'll be at that next meeting... Not that I want to be there, but I want to make sure it gets done. And we have a pretty good chance of getting it done."

The US president's comments come amid a backdrop of ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with Moscow making advances in Donbass and elsewhere. Zelensky has expressed his willingness to engage in peace talks, but has emphasized the need for any agreement to be reliable and secure. Trump believes Putin "wants to see it done" and that it's really up to President Zelensky to get it done. He also thinks European nations need to get involved a little bit.

However, significant challenges remain in the peace talks. Moscow has insisted that any settlement should include Ukraine's commitment to bloc neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification, as well as recognition of the new territorial reality on the ground. This includes the status of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye regions, which have voted to become part of Russia.

Moreover, Moscow has voiced concerns about Zelensky's right to sign any binding agreements, given that his presidential term expired last year. Zelensky has refused to call for new elections, citing martial law. Earlier, Putin proposed direct talks with Ukraine in Turkey without preconditions to reach a solution to end the conflict. Trump hailed the move, saying it will at least "determine whether or not a deal is possible" and urged Zelensky to agree to it immediately .

The international community is expected to play a crucial role in facilitating peace talks. As the conflict continues, with Ukrainian troops facing challenges on the ground, the need for a diplomatic solution becomes increasingly urgent. The outcome of any potential agreement will depend on the willingness of both sides to compromise and the ability of the international community to support a lasting peace.

Trump's administration has provided significant support to Ukraine, and the US president has emphasized the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. With the situation on the ground remaining dire, the possibility of a deal between Ukraine and Russia remains a topic of intense discussion and diplomacy.