Russia and Ukraine are “very close” to reaching a peace deal, former US President Donald Trump has claimed, as he joined world leaders in Rome ahead of the funeral of Pope Francis.
Speaking upon his arrival in the Italian capital, Mr Trump said that both sides should now meet at a “very high level” to finalise an agreement that could bring an end to the two-year-long conflict. His remarks come as his administration intensifies pressure on Ukraine to accept a deal that would see significant portions of its territory remain under Russian control.
Mr Trump, writing on his social media platform Truth Social, declared: “It has been a good day in talks and meetings with Russia and Ukraine. 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.”
He added: “We will be wherever is necessary to help facilitate the END to this cruel and senseless war.”
The US President is set to attend the funeral service for Pope Francis at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday, alongside British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and other world leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also listed among the attendees, though it remains unclear whether he will travel to Rome or have an opportunity to meet Mr Trump in person.
Russia, for its part, will be represented by its Culture Minister, Olga Lyubimova.
Behind the scenes, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been holding key negotiations. Mr Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday, reportedly making substantial progress on the terms of a proposed settlement.
The peace plan, however, has provoked anger among many Ukrainians, who view the American-backed proposal as heavily biased in favour of Russia. According to reports in The Times, Washington sees the terms as “set in stone,” leaving Kyiv little room for negotiation.
While there are currently no formal plans for political meetings among leaders during the Vatican gatherings, the occasion presents a rare opportunity for face-to-face discussions. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Mr Trump hinted at informal talks: “It would be disrespectful to turn this into a political summit, but I’ll be talking to people.”
Back in Britain, Downing Street rejected speculation that the so-called “coalition of the willing” — a proposed peacekeeping force to secure any future settlement — was faltering. Reports had suggested the UK might back away from the plan over concerns about the risks involved.
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However, a Number 10 spokesman insisted that “all options remain on the table” for supporting Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement. According to The Daily Telegraph, the US has privately indicated it is willing to provide security guarantees to the force, though Mr Trump himself has remained cautious in his public remarks.
Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, Russian forces continued their bombardment, launching fresh drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian cities. In a further escalation, a senior Russian general was killed by a car bomb outside Moscow on Friday, with the Kremlin swiftly blaming the attack on Ukrainian operatives.
The assassination is likely to inflame tensions further, even as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict appear to be gathering momentum.
As leaders prepare to pay their respects to Pope Francis in Rome, the world watches closely to see whether the solemnity of the occasion might also create an unexpected opening for dialogue — and perhaps a breakthrough towards peace.
