Trump Says Ukraine Peace Is 'Getting Closer' Ahead of NATO Summit Talks

The U.S. president says progress has been made following separate conversations with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, although fighting continues on the ground.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said that a resolution to the war in Ukraine is "getting closer than people realize" following separate telephone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ahead of this week's NATO summit.

Speaking before departing for the NATO leaders' meeting in Ankara, Trump said Ukraine would be among the key issues discussed during high-level talks with allied leaders. While expressing optimism about diplomatic progress, he did not provide specific details on what had changed or outline any potential framework for a peace agreement.

Despite the positive remarks, the conflict continued to intensify on the ground. Overnight, Russian missile and drone attacks struck Kyiv and surrounding areas, causing casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure, highlighting the significant challenges that remain despite ongoing diplomatic engagement.

In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia believes the United States' overall position on resolving the conflict has not fundamentally changed following the recent conversations between the leaders.

The remarks come as NATO leaders gather to discuss defence spending, military cooperation and continued support for Ukraine. The summit is expected to be closely watched by governments around the world for any indication of renewed diplomatic momentum or changes in Western policy toward the conflict.

Although no breakthrough has been officially announced, international observers say direct communication between Washington, Moscow and Kyiv remains an important channel for reducing tensions and exploring opportunities for future negotiations.