Trump says there is “very good chance” Russia-Ukraine war will end soon

US President Donald Trump said on Friday that there is a “very good chance” the war between Russia and Ukraine could come to an end after what he described as “productive” discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He also mentioned that he had requested Putin to spare the lives of “completely surrounded” Ukrainian troops, likely referring to Ukrainian forces retreating from the Kursk region, the only area they had controlled on Russian territory.

“We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. However, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt later clarified that Trump had not personally spoken with Putin, but that US envoy Steve Witkoff had met with him in Moscow. A source familiar with the matter confirmed that Witkoff had a lengthy discussion with the Russian leader on Thursday night.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Putin had sent “signals” to Trump through Witkoff and that Moscow and Washington would coordinate a call between the two leaders after Trump had been fully briefed. Trump has repeatedly called for a swift ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, warning that the ongoing war could escalate into a larger global conflict. He has stressed the need for immediate action to prevent further loss of life on both sides.