Trump "There is a possibility of reaching a settlement to end the Ukraine war"

US·Ukraine senior-level talks

Donald Trump, the U.S. President, said on the 30th (local time) in Florida, immediately after U.S.-Ukraine talks, "(I think) there is a possibility (of reaching a settlement to end the Ukraine war)."

According to the White House press pool, President Trump answered reporters' questions this way that day. He also pointed out, "There are some thorny issues in Ukraine," then mentioned a 'corruption scandal' within the Ukrainian government, saying it was "a corruption-related issue that does not help (the negotiations)."

The U.S. and Ukraine held senior-level consultations that day on a peace plan. Both sides said the talks were productive. However, Marco Rubio, Secretary of State and the U.S. chief representative, showed a cautious attitude, saying there is still work to be done. Steve Witkoff, President Trump's Middle East special envoy, is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow this week.

The two countries, while discussing a peace plan, also discussed a new election schedule in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing U.S. senior officials. The new elections are understood to mean presidential and other elections that have not been held because of the war that began in February 2022. President Zelensky took office in May 2019 and his 5-year term ended in May 2024. However, the election was delayed because of the war, so he has remained in power. Russia argued that President Zelensky no longer has legitimacy as a negotiating partner since his term ended.

The WSJ reported that the delegations also discussed the possibility of territorial exchanges in the talks that day. This is viewed as meaning an agreement between the two countries over Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia through the war.

Reporter Joo-wan Kim kjwan@hankyung.com