Officials working ‘very hard on ending Russia-Ukraine war’, Trump envoy says

Monday 25 August 2025 3:50 pm

US president Donald Trump’s particular envoy Keith Kellogg mentioned officers are “working very, very exhausting” on efforts to finish the three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as an absence of progress fuels doubts about whether or not a peace settlement might be on the horizon.

Mr Kellogg mentioned in Kyiv that officers are “hoping to get to a place the place, within the close to time period, we now have, with an absence of a greater time period, safety ensures” that handle Ukraine’s fears of one other invasion by Russia sooner or later.

“That’s a piece in progress,” he mentioned of the potential safety ensures, after attending Ukraine’s annual Nationwide Prayer Breakfast together with politicians, enterprise leaders and diplomats.

Per week in the past, Trump mentioned he had set in movement preparations for direct peace talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky. However Russian officers have signalled that such a summit won’t occur any time quickly.

Trump mentioned he expects to determine on subsequent steps in two weeks if direct talks will not be scheduled.

A stream of high-ranking guests to Kyiv in current days displays issues across the US-led peace drive.

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney visited Kyiv on Sunday for conferences with Mr Zelensky, pledging two billion Canadian {dollars} (£1.06 billion) in help, and Nato secretary basic Mark Rutte was within the Ukrainian capital on Friday. 

Germany’s vice chancellor and finance minister, Lars Klingbeil, arrived in Kyiv on Monday to debate “how Germany can greatest assist Ukraine in a attainable peace course of”.

Mr Putin spoke on the telephone with Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday, the Kremlin mentioned. Russia and Iran have shut relations, and Mr Putin has additionally deepened ties with China, India and North Korea as Western international locations have sided with Ukraine within the conflict.

Mr Putin and Mr Pezeshkian are anticipated to fulfill subsequent week when China hosts the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s annual summit, in Tianjin.

Mr Klingbeil, the German vice chancellor, informed Mr Zelensky that Ukraine’s allies must “speak about what occurs if President Putin doesn’t relent, if he desires to proceed the conflict”.

Germany will proceed to face by Ukraine, he mentioned, echoing sentiments by Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Retailer earlier within the day.

Norway’s multibillion-dollar navy and civilian assist for Ukraine’s combat to defeat Russia’s invasion will stretch into subsequent yr, Mr Retailer mentioned in Kyiv.

Mr Retailer, whose nation borders Russia, informed a information convention with Mr Zelensky that Ukraine is “defending a essential precept on the European degree” by refusing to just accept Russia’s seizure of territory.

Analysts say Mr Putin thinks he can outlast Western governments’ dedication to Ukraine and use his greater military to seize extra Ukrainian land whereas peace efforts are beneath dialogue.

Norway on Sunday pledged about seven billion kroner (£514 million) towards air defence techniques for Ukraine. Norway and Germany are collectively funding two US-made Patriot anti-missile techniques, together with missiles, with Norway additionally serving to procure air defence radar, Mr Retailer mentioned.

In the meantime, Ukraine’s Air Drive mentioned Russia launched 104 strike and decoy drones in a single day into Monday, concentrating on the nation’s north and east. There have been no instant experiences of harm or casualties.

By AP Reporters