Trump Claims Putin Agreed to Pause Attacks as Peace Efforts Intensify

Washington: US President Donald Trump has made a bold claim regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. He stated that negotiations to end the war between the two countries have now reached a decisive stage. However, Trump also acknowledged that the deep hatred and mutual distrust between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin remains the biggest obstacle to a peace agreement. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, "Zelensky and Putin hate each other, and that makes it extremely difficult to reach a compromise. Nevertheless, I believe we are very close to a solution."

Trump revealed that he recently spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone. During the call, he urged Putin to halt attacks on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities for at least a week. According to Trump, Putin agreed to this request. He explained that this appeal was made in light of the current situation, as both Ukraine and Russia are currently experiencing unusual and record-breaking cold. Trump said, "This is not a normal winter; he's never seen such a severe cold before."

Although diplomatic efforts are intensifying, the situation on the ground remains dire. According to Ukrainian officials, at least three people were killed in a Russian drone strike in the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Following this attack, Ukrainian President Zelensky warned that Russia could be preparing for a major military offensive in the coming days, raising questions about peace efforts.

Meanwhile, Russia has taken a significant step to advance peace talks. The Kremlin has invited Ukrainian President Zelensky for face-to-face talks in Moscow. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that if Zelensky agrees to talks, Russia will ensure his security and all necessary arrangements. This offer comes after the recent Russia-Ukraine-US trilateral meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Russia-Ukraine War: Nearly 2 million soldiers killed or injured since 2022

Overall, international hopes for peace efforts have risen, but the deep animosity between leaders and the continued attacks make it clear that ending the Russia-Ukraine war remains fraught with many daunting challenges.