Trump Optimistic Russia Will Agree to Ukrainian Settlement

US President Donald Trump has expressed confidence that Russia will agree to a settlement for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, ahead of his departure for Florida, Trump shared his optimism about the direction of talks.

"We’ve had some encouraging news coming out of Russia," Trump stated, without elaborating on the specifics of the developments. "I feel confident that Russia is going to make a deal with us. I hope so," he added, underscoring his belief that a resolution was within reach.

Trump also mentioned ongoing discussions with Russian officials, noting a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US Presidential Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. "We’ve been in touch with President Putin and a lot of people involved. Ukraine is waiting," Trump said, emphasizing that positive signs were emerging on the possibility of a ceasefire and a broader settlement.

"I’m getting some pretty good vibes from Russia regarding a ceasefire and ultimately a deal," he continued, although he declined to reveal further details about the discussions.

Earlier, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that President Putin had met with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday and conveyed a message for President Trump. The exact contents of their conversation remain undisclosed. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt had earlier announced that Witkoff would visit Moscow to explore potential paths to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.

In response to Witkoff’s return, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Biden administration would closely examine Russia’s position. "President Trump will assess the situation and determine what next steps the US will take to advance the settlement process," Rubio noted.

Ceasefire Negotiations:

On March 11, talks between US and Ukrainian delegations took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Following those discussions, Ukraine agreed to a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, with Washington agreeing to resume intelligence sharing and military assistance to Kyiv. The two sides also moved toward signing an agreement for the extraction of Ukrainian minerals, which would be a crucial step in addressing Ukraine's economic needs.

On March 13, President Putin thanked Trump for his efforts in the peace talks and voiced support for the ceasefire. However, he raised several key issues, including the status of Ukrainian military personnel involved in the Kursk region and the mechanisms for monitoring the ceasefire. Putin emphasized that Russia was open to proposals that would lead to a permanent peace settlement, provided these solutions addressed the underlying causes of the conflict.

While the specifics of any potential deal remain unclear, the diplomatic momentum surrounding the ceasefire and settlement discussions continues to build.