Trump on talks with Russia and Ukraine: We are closer with one side

US President Donald Trump, photo: Getty Images

US President Donald Trump claims that the United States is closer to one of the parties in negotiations to resolve the Russian-Ukrainian war. However, he did not want to name this party.

He said this in an interview with NBC's Meet the Press programme.

He was asked if they were any closer to reaching a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

«I do believe that we are closer [to reaching an agreement] with one side and probably not so close with the other. But I wouldn't want to say which side we're closer to,» Donald Trump replied.

He was also asked how much time he gives both sides to reach an agreement. In response, the US president said that sometimes he is close to withdrawing from the negotiations, but then «good things happen».

At the same time, he stressed that «there may come a time» when he will say «Okay, keep going, keep being fools» and withdraw from the talks.

Earlier, the Kremlin reported that Vladimir Putin, at a meeting with US Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff, confirmed his readiness to hold talks with Ukraine without preconditions.

It was also reported that US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment over the Russian missile strike on Kyiv and said he was not sure about Vladimir Putin's readiness to end the war.