Trump Claims Ukraine Peace Talks Are Near Despite Fresh Russian Attack on Kyiv

US President Donald Trump has said he believes both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky are interested in ending the prolonged war, even as Russia launched another deadly wave of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's capital.

Addressing reporters at the White House on Monday after an event to launch the Trump Accounts programme for children, Trump revealed that he had spoken separately with Putin and Zelensky over the weekend. He said the conversations reinforced his belief that diplomatic efforts to end the conflict are gaining momentum.

"President Putin wants to see it end, and President Zelensky wants it to end as well," Trump said, adding that Ukraine would remain a key focus during upcoming discussions with NATO leaders.

His comments came amid a major Russian aerial offensive on Kyiv , where Ukrainian authorities reported that at least 21 people were killed and several others injured after missiles and drones struck multiple locations across the city. The latest attack has intensified calls from Kyiv for stronger Western military assistance, particularly advanced air defence systems.

Zelensky is expected to raise Ukraine's security needs during meetings with NATO allies, while discussions with Trump are also anticipated on the sidelines of the summit as efforts to revive peace negotiations continue.

During the interaction, Trump also repeated his claim that he had helped prevent a wider conflict between India and Pakistan following Operation Sindoor in 2025. He asserted that his intervention helped avert a potential nuclear confrontation after four days of military exchanges.

India, however, has consistently dismissed Trump's assertion , maintaining that the decision to halt hostilities was reached through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan, without any external mediation.

Although Trump expressed confidence that progress is being made toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war, the continued escalation of attacks on the ground highlights the complexities facing any future ceasefire or peace agreement.