Trump forecasts Ukraine agreement after private meeting with Putin envoy

US President Donald Trump said he held a private meeting on Thursday with Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and predicted that an agreement to resolve the war in Ukraine could come soon. Dmitriev was at the White House for an event organized by First Lady Melania Trump that also brought Ukrainian representatives to the presidential residence.

Speaking to reporters, Trump declined to describe his discussions with Dmitriev but suggested a settlement could reach beyond Ukraine to encompass all of Europe. He said he had not met the Ukrainian delegation. Trump has repeatedly forecast an imminent end to Europe's deadliest conflict since World War Two, although negotiations have gained momentum in recent weeks. A US delegation is scheduled to mediate Russian-Ukrainian talks in Abu Dhabi on November 10 and 11.

Trump envoy Jared Kushner separately reported progress in discussions held in Brussels on Thursday. In a social media post, he described US meetings with Ukraine, NATO and European partners as productive and substantive. Those talks addressed security guarantees for Ukraine alongside a wider framework for European security.

Kushner identified five objectives: ongoing security consultations, dependable communication during crises, increased military transparency, reciprocal steps to limit escalation risks, and a lasting structure for European security and stability. He said any arrangement must preserve national sovereignty, territorial integrity and independent decisions about security and alliances. No nation would gain a veto over another country's choices, he said, while NATO would retain its central role in Europe's collective defense.

The White House gathering marked a six-day ceasefire in the Russian-controlled city of Oleshky that Melania Trump helped negotiate. The truce expired on Sunday. The first lady said her participation extended throughout the planning process, including examining aerial images, roads and access to hospitals. Calling for further cooperation to ease civilian suffering, she said: “We have chosen humanity over war.”

Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia and human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets attended and encouraged the Slovenian-born first lady to continue her peace efforts. Both delegations brought gifts. Dmitriev presented a drawing of pink hearts from a girl in Oleshky, saying she had chosen to live with her family in Russia. The Ukrainians gave Melania Trump a state award recognizing her efforts to save people and secure the return of Ukrainian children.

Melania Trump gave the delegations letters for Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Her husband did not attend the event, but he had praised her work on the Oleshky ceasefire in October. Dmitriev has also helped facilitate the release of Americans detained in Russia and reunite Ukrainian children with their families.

The visit was the first face-to-face contact between Russian and US officials since Tuesday's midterm elections, in which Democrats took control of Congress from Republicans. The incoming Democratic majority, which begins work in January, is widely expected to seek additional assistance for Ukraine and scrutinize Trump's diesel agreement with Russia and his easing of some sanctions on Moscow. Trump has stepped up his criticism of Zelenskiy in recent weeks.

The Kremlin has expressed hope that Trump will maintain his peace efforts despite the Republican electoral defeat. It also said preparations were underway for Putin, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to meet during this month's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, southern China. Dmitriev previously visited the White House in 2025 for talks with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff. Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, did not invite Russian officials to the White House.