President Trump said on Monday that he was in “serious discussions” with Russian President Vladimir Putin about ending the war in Ukraine and the possibility of economic deals between the US and Russia.
“I am in serious discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia concerning the ending of the War, and also major Economic Development transactions which will take place between the United States and Russia,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Talks are proceeding very well!”
While the US hasn’t committed to lifting economic sanctions on Russia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has made clear that sanctions relief will likely be part of a deal to end the war in Ukraine, which could pave the way for future US-Russia economic cooperation.
Trump also said in his Truth Social post that he discussed the idea of the US reaching a rare earth minerals deal with Ukraine while hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and speaking to other G7 leaders. “Everyone expressed their goal of seeing the War end, and I emphasized the importance of the vital “Critical Minerals and Rare-Earths Deal” between the United States and Ukraine, which we hope will be signed very soon!” he said.
Also on Monday, Trump claimed that Putin had “no problem” with the idea of a European peacekeeping force being deployed to Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal, although Russian officials have rejected the idea of a deployment of soldiers from NATO countries.
“Yeah, he will accept that. I’ve asked him that question,” Trump told reporters alongside Macron in the Oval Office. “Look, if we do this deal, he’s not looking for more war. He doesn’t mind. But I’ve specifically asked him that question. He has no problem with it.”
Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have been leading the push for a European troop deployment to provide a security guarantee for Ukraine. The Times reported last week that a plan that’s been proposed would involve a deployment of 30,000 European troops backed by US air power.
