US President Donald Trump has indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin "will have to" make concessions in negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, but stopped short of detailing what those concessions would entail.
Speaking on Wednesday at his first Cabinet meeting, Trump was asked whether Putin would be required to make concessions to bring about peace.
"Yeah, he will," Trump responded. "He's going to have to. And I think, I believe that, because we got elected, that war will come to an end."
He continued, suggesting that if his administration had not won the election by a significant margin, the war might have continued for a much longer period, with Putin possibly aiming to take control of more territory.
When pressed further on the specifics of what concessions Putin would need to make, Trump declined to provide details, stating, "I don’t want to tell you right now."
Trump also made headlines for his comments regarding NATO, saying Ukraine's aspirations to join the alliance were unrealistic in the context of negotiations.
"But I can tell you, NATO you can forget about," he said, downplaying the importance of Ukraine's NATO ambitions as a means of ending the conflict.
In addition to these remarks, Trump confirmed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the White House on Friday to sign a significant agreement on natural resources and the reconstruction of war-torn Ukraine.
“We’re doing very well with Russia-Ukraine. President Zelensky is going to be coming on Friday. It’s now confirmed, and we’re going to be signing an agreement,” Trump said, thanking Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Trump further highlighted the financial aspects of the deal, stating, “We’ve been able to make a deal where we’re going to get our money back and we’re going to get a lot of money in the future, and I think that’s appropriate.”
The agreement, which could provide the US with access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, is part of broader negotiations to end Russia's invasion, as well as US involvement in a reconstruction fund for Ukraine.
The deal marks a significant step in the growing US-Ukraine relationship, with both sides seeking to secure key resources and address the ongoing conflict.
The agreement also signals an increased US role in Ukraine’s rebuilding efforts, potentially offering long-term strategic benefits as the country continues to face the aftermath of Russia’s invasion.