On February 24, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Russia’s war against Ukraine could end "within weeks" and claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin would allow European peacekeepers in Ukraine as part of a potential agreement.
"I think we could end it within weeks—if we're smart. If not, it will continue, and we'll keep losing young, beautiful people who shouldn't be dying," Trump said alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House.
Trump asserted that the U.S. supports sending European troops to monitor a ceasefire and claimed he had discussed the proposal with Putin, who "would accept it." When asked if Ukraine should cede territory to Russia in a settlement, Trump responded, "We'll see," noting that negotiations were in the early stages.
Macron affirmed Europe’s willingness to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, including peacekeepers, in the event of a ceasefire. European leaders have been rallying support for such a mission, with the U.K. reportedly preparing to propose deploying 30,000 European peacekeepers. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to meet Trump in Washington later this week to discuss the matter.
On February 18, U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian or European representatives, with a follow-up meeting scheduled for February 25. This has raised concerns in Kyiv and among European leaders about Trump's approach to negotiations.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized that Europe should take primary responsibility for Ukraine’s security. His administration has also pressured Kyiv to sign a minerals deal with the U.S., which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized for lacking security guarantees.
The UN General Assembly approved a Ukrainian resolution on February 24 condemning Russia’s invasion, with 93 countries voting in favor and 18 against. The U.S., Israel, Hungary, Russia, and Belarus opposed the resolution. While the resolution reaffirmed Ukraine’s territorial integrity and named Russia as the aggressor, a separate U.S.-drafted resolution avoided explicitly calling Russia the aggressor. Ukraine abstained from voting on the latter.
Reports suggest the U.S. has sought to soften language on Russia in international statements. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz refrained from explicitly naming Russia as the aggressor in recent media appearances.
Trump’s rhetoric toward Ukraine has also grown more confrontational. He recently called Zelensky a "dictator" and falsely claimed Ukraine started the war—before later acknowledging, "Russia attacked, but they shouldn't have let him attack."
Meanwhile, European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Kyiv on February 24 for a summit on Ukraine’s security strategy. "We are in Kyiv today because Ukraine is Europe," von der Leyen said.
A report by independent Russian media outlets Meduza and Mediazona estimated that around 165,000 Russian troops have been killed since the full-scale invasion began. Russian casualties have increased annually, with nearly 100,000 reported in 2024 alone. Ukraine’s General Staff claims total Russian losses, including wounded and missing, have surpassed 868,000.
Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast in August 2024, seizing 1,300 square kilometers. Russia has since deployed up to 12,000 North Korean soldiers to the region.
In a separate development, Ukraine’s drone forces struck an oil refinery in Russia’s Ryazan Oblast on February 24. Kyiv considers such facilities legitimate military targets due to their role in funding Russia’s war effort. This marks the third attack on the Ryazan Oil Refinery since January 2025.
Russia has signaled conditional openness to negotiations. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on February 24 that Russia would agree to a ceasefire only if talks yield a "sustainable result" that "suits" Russian leadership. Lavrov’s remarks coincide with increased U.S.-Russia diplomatic engagement, including upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia.
Ukraine remains wary of a swift ceasefire without strong security guarantees, fearing it would allow Russia time to regroup and renew its aggression. "Peace must be based on balanced diplomacy and clear security guarantees," Zelensky emphasized at the summit.
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