U.S. President Donald Trump has stepped back from a previously suggested Thanksgiving deadline for Ukraine to accept a U.S.-backed peace plan, emphasizing ongoing negotiations and progress with Moscow.
Trump told reporters on Tuesday that the “deadline for me is when it’s over,” signaling a shift from his earlier push to finalize a deal by Thanksgiving. The president said U.S. negotiators were making progress with Russia and Ukraine, noting that Moscow had agreed to some concessions, though he did not provide further details.
US negotiators and key players
Trump confirmed that envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Moscow next week to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In addition, Jared Kushner, who helped negotiate the Gaza ceasefire, remains involved in the discussions.
Recent reports suggested Witkoff coached Russian officials on how to present a ceasefire plan to Trump, including arranging a Trump-Putin call before Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s White House visit. Trump dismissed the report as standard negotiating strategy.
Russia’s position and Ukraine’s options
The president indicated that Russia currently has the upper hand in the conflict and suggested that some Ukrainian territory might be ceded to Moscow in the coming months. He emphasized that it would be in Ukraine’s interest to reach an agreement while security guarantees for the country are being negotiated with European partners.
