Trump Urges Russia and Ukraine to Advance Peace Deal

President Donald Trump called on Russia and Ukraine to meet and work toward a peace deal, saying he believes a deal between the two countries is close. In comments posted on social media, President Trump said:

"Success seems to be in the future" and later in the day: "They are very close to a deal, and the two sides should now meet, at very high levels, to 'finish it off.' Most of the major points are agreed to. Stop the bloodshed, NOW."

On Friday, special U.S. envoy to Russia Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for about three hours, focusing on the potential for direct talks between Russia and Ukraine.

President Trump also articulated new goals for the peace effort:

"We're going to try and get out of war so that we can save 5,000 people a week. And that's what my aim is. I want to save 5,000 young men. They happen to be mostly Ukrainian, Russian, 5,000 young Ukrainian and Russian men."

However, the president also stated that "Crimea will stay with Russia." This plan reportedly proposed by the U.S. to officially recognize Russian control of Crimea is unacceptable to Ukrainian officials.

The president has recently re-upped public criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over a minerals deal that was the focus of a contentious White House meeting earlier this year.