Trump Says U.S., Ukraine Close to Deal as He Prepares to Meet Zelenskyy in Switzerland

By Ginika Igboke

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that he will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Switzerland on Thursday, expressing confidence that an agreement to end Russia’s war in Ukraine is within reach.

“I think I can say that we’re reasonably close,” Trump told reporters in Davos, Switzerland, following his address at the World Economic Forum. “We have to get it stopped. … I believe they’re at a point now where they can come together and get a deal done. And if they don’t, they’re stupid.”

Diplomatic efforts have intensified as the war approaches its fourth anniversary on Feb. 24. Trump, who has positioned himself as a mediator, said Russian President Vladimir Putin “wants to make a deal.” He added that previous negotiations collapsed because of what he described as “abnormal hatred” between the leaders, saying Zelenskyy had recently been the final obstacle to progress.

Following a Dec. 28, 2025, meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, the president said the United States and Ukraine were “a lot closer” to a peace plan, though territorial disputes in the Donbas region remain a major challenge.

“The land you’re talking about, some of that land has been taken,” Trump said, referring to unresolved issues in the negotiations. “Some of that land is maybe up for grabs, but it may be taken over the next period of a number of months.”

In a Jan. 12 address, Zelenskyy confirmed ongoing work with Trump’s envoys on meeting schedules, saying, “our documents are, in many respects, already prepared for signing.” He stressed the need to maintain pressure on Russia, noting that “all options for pressure on the aggressor must remain on the table.”

Zelenskyy told Bloomberg in January that U.S. troops would need to be involved in any peacekeeping mission. The United States has pledged to provide security guarantees, including a proposed 15-year agreement, along with the possibility of a U.S. military presence and minerals-for-aid arrangements.

Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, focused on resolving global conflicts with an emphasis on the Middle East, has invited Putin to participate. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Jan. 19 that Putin had received the invitation through diplomatic channels and that Moscow was reviewing the proposal.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has voiced support for the Trump-Zelenskyy peace efforts. “We support the efforts of President Trump and President Zelenskyy to reach a negotiated settlement and we stand ready to provide robust support,” Carney said in December 2025.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Jan. 20 that U.S.-European relations have “never been closer.”