Trump Backs Away from Ukraine Peace Deal Deadline

Washington: United States President Donald Trump has stepped back from his earlier deadline for Ukraine to accept a US-backed peace plan, saying the only deadline for him is when the war comes to an end.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while travelling to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, Trump said American negotiators were making progress in discussions with both Russia and Ukraine, and that Moscow had already agreed to some concessions, though he did not provide specific details.

Earlier, Trump had indicated that he wanted Ukraine to agree to a peace deal by Thursday. However, he and his aides have now softened their position, saying they want an agreement as soon as possible, without setting a fixed date.

“The deadline for me is when it’s over,” he said.

Trump confirmed that his envoy Steve Witkoff would soon travel to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He added that his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who played a role in negotiating the Gaza ceasefire earlier, was also involved in efforts related to the Ukraine conflict.

Media reports have raised concerns that the proposed US framework for ending the war may place heavy pressure on Ukraine and could be seen as favouring Moscow’s position. Trump rejected any such characterization, saying his team was working like any “standard negotiation.”

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“We’re dealing with both sides,” he said, adding that Russia currently appeared to have the upper hand on the battlefield and that it might be in Ukraine’s interest to reach an agreement sooner rather than later.

Trump also said Ukraine’s future security guarantees were being discussed with European partners, and that the situation on the ground could change in the coming months.

The Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022 and continues to have serious consequences for regional and global security, with ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at finding a political solution to the conflict.