Trump hopes Russia, Ukraine "make a deal this week," pledges "big business" with US

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly urged Russia and Ukraine to reach a peace agreement within the next week, suggesting that both countries would benefit economically from the United States if they successfully negotiate a deal. 

In a post on social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week. Both will then start to do big business with the United States of America, which is thriving, and make a fortune," Caliber.Az reports.

As per the reports from Ukrainian media outlets, Trump’s remarks come amid ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, although tensions remain high. On April 19, Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a temporary "Easter truce," halting combat operations until midnight on April 21. However, the truce was quickly undermined, with President Volodymyr Zelensky reporting over 2,000 violations by Russian forces. Despite the violations, Ukraine has called for an extension of the truce, proposing a 30-day ceasefire to reduce civilian harm.

Trump has previously threatened to pull U.S. support from the peace process if either Russia or Ukraine stalls negotiations. On April 18, Trump told reporters, "If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're just going to take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed these sentiments, stating that Washington would abandon peace efforts if no progress is made soon. These comments mark a shift in the Trump administration's stance, which had initially prioritised securing a peace agreement between the two countries since the beginning of the year. Trump had previously promised to end the war in 24 hours, boasting about his ability to broker a deal.

As Trump continues to position economic incentives as key to the peace talks, both Russia and Ukraine have been drawn into discussions about potential economic partnerships with the U.S. In recent months, the Trump administration has focused on strengthening relations with Moscow, touting the possibility of "mutually beneficial cooperation" and "enormous economic deals" between the two nations. Similarly, discussions with Ukraine have centred on a proposed minerals deal that would grant the U.S. control over revenues from Ukraine's natural resources.

Despite the emphasis on business interests, the U.S. has emphasised that any agreement must align with its strategic goals, including securing Ukraine’s defence capabilities against Russian aggression. However, the proposed deal has raised concerns, as it does not include security guarantees for Ukraine.

European leaders have expressed scepticism about the peace process, particularly surrounding Putin’s Easter truce, with some suggesting it was more of a "media stunt" to placate U.S. pressures. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky called the truce a mere attempt to appease Trump, whose public frustration with stalled negotiations is growing.

For now, the world watches closely as both Russia and Ukraine work toward resolving a conflict that has ravaged Eastern Europe for over a year. The next week could prove pivotal in shaping the future of U.S. involvement in the peace process.

By Khagan Isayev