Russia-Ukraine war to end soon? Moscow issues BIG statement, says Trump’s peace plan likely to…, Zelenskyy also optimistic about…

Moscow: In a major development, Vladimir Putin-led Russia has expressed hope that the war in Ukraine may come to an end. Russia said that talks on a US-backed peace deal to end the war, which has been ongoing for nearly four years, are progressing well. Meetings were held earlier this week in Berlin with Ukrainian and European officials as part of this process. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also described the talks as positive.

According to AP, citing the Russian state news agency, both Ukraine and Russia are taking a positive approach. On Saturday, Kirill Dmitriev said that the discussions are moving forward constructively. Dmitriev met US President Doland Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that the US stance is crucial after talks with the Russians.

Here’ what Zelenskyy said:

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he supports the idea of a trilateral meeting of the national security advisers of Ukraine, the United States, and Russia.
• Zelenskyy added that he is optimistic about such a meeting.
• According to the Ukrainian President, the proposal came from the United States, and Ukraine’s chief peace negotiator Rustem Umerov briefed him on it.
• Zelenskyy said that he is not fully confident that anything new will emerge from the meeting.
• Zelenskyy recalled that the return of captured soldiers and civilians had been made possible after the previous talks in Turkey.
• Zelenskyy said that if the meeting results in a prisoner exchange or any other agreement, he would accept it.
• He added that while supporting the US proposal, he wants to see how things move forward.

The Ukrainian president also acknowledged that the most difficult issues related to the peace process remain unresolved. These include territorial disputes, control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, and funding for Ukraine’s reconstruction.