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President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he is hopeful Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week to end the ongoing conflict between the two nations.
The president shared the comments in a post to his Truth Social account on Easter.
“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!” he wrote in all caps.
A proposed 30-day ceasefire has been under discussion between the two nations, with Russia announcing a temporary ceasefire for Easter.
Trump’s cautious optimism follows multiple rounds of talks aimed at bringing peace to the conflict. On Friday, Trump told reporters that he could pass if the two sides remain difficult in negotiations.
“Now 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 going to just take a pass,” Trump told reporters. “But hopefully we won’t have to do that.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also warned Friday that the U.S. could move on from trying to help make peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“We’re not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end,” Rubio said during a meeting in Paris.
“So we need to determine very quickly now, and I’m talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks,” he added. “If it’s not possible, if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think [President Trump] is probably at a point where he’s going to say, ‘Well, we’re done.’”
Trump has applied pressure on both Ukraine and Russia to make a deal to end the conflict since returning to office.
In January, Trump shared a post to his Truth Social account calling on Russia to “make a deal” to end the conflict in Ukraine.
“I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process, Trump began.
“All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” he continued.
