President Donald Trump met Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev at the White House on Thursday and said a major deal to end the war in Ukraine is close.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said the agreement would involve more than Ukraine and could extend to all of Europe. "It's going to be a big agreement, and it's going to involve more than Ukraine," he said. "I could even say it might involve all of Europe. It's going to be a big, beautiful agreement, and everyone's going to be thrilled." Trump did not disclose what he discussed with Dmitriev. He also said he did not meet with the Ukrainian delegation present at the White House.
The meeting came the same day that First Lady Melania Trump hosted an event in the East Room bringing together Russian and Ukrainian officials. The gathering marked a six-day ceasefire in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Ukraine. The truce ran from October 27 to November 1 and allowed the evacuation of nearly 800 people. Melania Trump said she was "involved in every stage of the planning," including reviewing aerial images and assessing roadways and hospital access.
Trump's son-in-law and envoy Jared Kushner said the United States held "productive and substantive discussions" in Brussels on Thursday with Ukraine, NATO and European partners. The talks covered security guarantees for Kyiv and a broader European security architecture. Kushner said negotiators were exploring five goals, including permanent security consultations and reliable crisis communications. He added that any arrangements must respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of every nation. Trilateral talks between the United States, Ukraine and Russia are scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi.
Dmitriev, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, is under US sanctions. The restrictions have been suspended since he began participating in negotiations over the war. His appearance marked the first public visit by a Russian official to the White House since 2019. He had met privately with Trump adviser Steve Witkoff there in 2025. Ukrainian lawmaker David Arakhamia and human rights ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets also attended Thursday's event. Dmitriev presented Melania Trump with a drawing of pink hearts from an Oleshky girl.
