Trump: No Putin or Zelensky Meetings Until Ukraine Peace Deal Is Finalized
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will not meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky until a final peace agreement is reached to end the Russia-Ukraine war, stating that only finalized or near-final terms will bring the leaders to the table with him.
In a statement posted ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Trump said his team is making tremendous progress in negotiations and credited his administration’s leadership for getting both sides closer to peace.
“Over the past week, my team has made tremendous progress with respect to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine (a war that would have NEVER started if I were President!),” Trump said. “Last month 25,000 soldiers died. The original 28-Point Peace Plan, which was drafted by the United States, has been fine-tuned, with additional input from both sides, and there are only a few remaining points of disagreement.”
Trump confirmed that his Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Putin in Moscow, while Army Secretary Dan Driscoll continues negotiations with Ukrainian officials. Despite speculation about an upcoming visit from Zelensky to the U.S., Trump shut it down, saying: “I look forward to hopefully meeting with President Zelenskyy and President Putin soon, but ONLY when the deal to end this war is FINAL or in its final stages.”
He added that he will be briefed on all progress made by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
Peace Deal Reaches Final Stretch
The announcement follows reports that Ukraine has agreed to the general framework of a U.S.-brokered peace deal.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed Tuesday morning, “The Ukrainians have agreed to the peace deal. There are some minor details to be sorted out but they have agreed to a peace deal.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed that assessment, noting that while there are still delicate issues to finalize, they are not expected to derail the agreement. She said further talks between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States will continue until those points are resolved.
LTC Jeff Tolbert, spokesman for Driscoll, said Monday night’s meeting with the Russian delegation was productive. “The talks are going well and we remain optimistic,” Tolbert said. “Secretary Driscoll is closely synchronized with the White House and the U.S. interagency as these talks progress.”
Strategic Patience Over Optics
Trump’s decision to delay face-to-face meetings until the peace deal is nearly complete signals a clear preference for outcomes over theatrics. It also reflects his belief that the war would not have erupted had he been president in 2022.
For now, the final terms are being ironed out, and the administration believes a deal is within reach. A finalized agreement would mark a major foreign policy victory for Trump as he seeks to end one of the most violent conflicts of the decade.