Trump softens stance on Ukraine peace deadline as talks advance

Trump softens stance on Ukraine peace deadline as talks advance
U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One during travel to Palm Beach, Florida, from Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, U.S., 25 November, 2025
Reuters

The U.S.-imposed Thursday deadline on Ukraine’s peace plan is no longer Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday, adding that “the deadline for me is when it’s over.”

Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route to Florida for the Thanksgiving holiday, stated that U.S. negotiators had made progress in talks with both Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow agreeing to some concessions, though he did not elaborate.

The framework for ending the war, first reported last week, raised concerns that the Trump administration might pressure Ukraine into agreeing to a peace deal heavily favored by Moscow.

Trump revealed that his envoy, Steve Witkoff, would soon travel to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who played a key role in the Gaza ceasefire negotiations, was also involved.

Trump had initially set Thursday as the deadline for Ukraine to agree to the deal but has since backed away from the firm timeline, now expressing a desire for an agreement "as soon as possible."

The president said it appeared Russia had the upper hand in the war and that Ukraine might benefit from reaching an agreement, noting that some Ukrainian territory "might be taken by Russia anyway" in the coming months.

Discussions on security guarantees for Ukraine are ongoing with European partners, he added.

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