On Nov. 5, President Donald Trump said a deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine was close after he met Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, but gave no details and said he had not met a Ukrainian delegation visiting Washington.
Trump told reporters the agreement could cover more than Ukraine and involve Europe, but did not explain what it might include. Dmitriev had appeared earlier at a White House event hosted by first lady Melania Trump. Russian and Ukrainian representatives gathered at the event to discuss a short ceasefire that Melania Trump had helped arrange around Oleshky, a Ukrainian city occupied by Russia.
Trump did not attend that event. The ceasefire lasted six days and expired on Nov. 1. The White House meeting took place before U.S.-mediated talks between Russian and Ukrainian representatives scheduled for Abu Dhabi on Nov. 10 and 11.
Trump’s remarks did not show that the parties had agreed on terms or that a peace deal was about to happen. Meanwhile, Trump envoy Jared Kushner said U.S. officials had held discussions in Brussels with Ukraine, NATO and European partners about security guarantees and broader European security arrangements. Those discussions and the upcoming Abu Dhabi meeting are part of renewed diplomatic efforts, but important details of any possible settlement remain unclear.