U. S. President Donald Trump conveyed to Russian leader Vladimir Putin that the war in Ukraine must end, following positive talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Davos. There has been intense diplomatic activity as Ukraine seeks peace, though there are few signs that Russia is willing to cease fighting. After an hour-long meeting, Trump described the discussion with Zelenskiy as good, but did not share specific details. He noted that a peace deal seemed “reasonably close” and indicated that U. S. negotiators would be heading to Moscow for further talks.
Zelenskiy had expressed that he would only attend Davos if he could secure agreements on U. S. security and post-war funding, but no significant breakthroughs were reported after the meeting. This was one of several face-to-face meetings between Trump and Zelenskiy since Trump’s return to the White House, which has shifted U. S. policy towards favoring diplomacy with Russia. Zelenskiy faces a domestic energy crisis due to Russian strikes that have left parts of Ukraine without power.
U. S. envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned the possibility of resolving the conflict if both sides are willing to cooperate and highlighted progress made in discussions with Ukrainian officials. Witkoff and another envoy, Jared Kushner, were scheduled for talks with Putin in Moscow, addressing a potential plan to end the war. Discussing how to use frozen Russian assets for reconstruction and Trump’s proposal for a Board of Peace were also on the agenda. Critics have raised concerns that this proposal could undermine the United Nations.
Amid these diplomatic efforts, Russian airstrikes continued to hit Ukraine, resulting in casualties and damage, including a drone strike that killed a 17-year-old in Odesa and a missile strike in Kryvyi Rih. In Kyiv, thousands of apartment buildings remained without heating after recent attacks.
With information from Reuters
