Trump Sees Strong Push to End Russia-Ukraine War as Abu Dhabi Peace Talks Approach

President Donald Trump stated on Monday that Washington is detecting a “very strong inclination” to bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to a close, adding that both parties appear “tired of fighting.”

Although President Trump pledged to resolve the conflict upon taking office in January 2025, ending the war—triggered by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in early 2022—has remained out of reach.

“We are also seeing a very strong inclination to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. We are involved in that effort,” Trump told reporters.

A U.S. official said earlier Monday that both Russia and Ukraine have demonstrated some private flexibility regarding a possible territorial exchange ahead of this week’s talks in Abu Dhabi.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Tuesday’s negotiations, the official said security guarantees for Ukraine will be a central focus, including the possibility of a NATO-style Article 5 defense commitment for Kyiv.

Kyiv and Moscow have both remained firm on territorial demands. Ukraine seeks a return to its pre-war borders, while Russian President Vladimir Putin aims to control the entirety of the Donbas region.

Nevertheless, the official noted that both sides are privately signaling some willingness to compromise. Any territorial settlement would likely be deferred until the end of negotiations, after other issues—including a postwar security architecture—are resolved.

This week’s discussions mark the first talks since February intended to move closer to ending the war, now in its fifth year.

U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will lead American mediation efforts during the two-day Abu Dhabi talks. The official added that the envoys may travel to Russia afterward to meet with President Putin.

The official cautioned that negotiations would take time but expressed cautious optimism on the U.S. side that meaningful progress can be achieved.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has clashed with Trump in recent weeks over U.S. decisions to purchase Russian diesel, suspend certain sanctions, and urge Kyiv to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries. Trump has also called for Zelensky’s replacement.

The 1,200-kilometer front line has remained largely static for months, with Russian forces occupying approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.

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