Trump Says Both Sides in Ukraine-Russia Talks Are Ready to "Make a Deal"
US President Donald Trump told the Financial Times that, in his view, both Ukraine and Russia are ready to strike a deal. According to the FT, Ukrainian negotiators do not share his optimism.
US President Donald Trump has said in an interview with the Financial Times (FT) that, in peace talks on ending Russia's war against Ukraine, both sides are in his view ready to say: "Let's make a deal." He said he is optimistic that the negotiations are moving forward, although the FT reports that Ukrainian negotiators do not share that optimism.
In the same interview, Trump said he does not believe the United States is at war with Iran in the sense that it is in the case of Ukraine, or in wars like the First and Second World Wars.
Upcoming talks in Abu Dhabi
Earlier, Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy, announced that trilateral talks on ending the Russia-Ukraine war will take place next week in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. They are meant to focus on further steps toward peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Russian delegation will arrive in Abu Dhabi on 10–11 November and take part in talks in the Ukraine–US–Russia format. The delegation remains headed by Vladimir Medinsky, an aide to the Russian president.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said previously that, after European leaders spoke with the head of the Kremlin, there was a sense that Russia is serious about a meeting of negotiating teams in Abu Dhabi. At the Berlin Security Conference, Zelensky also said that for Russia, "a peaceful and united Europe is the enemy."
