Trump says Ukraine peace deal is nearing after talks with Putin, Zelensky
Synopsis
Standing beside Turkey's Erdogan in Ankara ahead of the NATO Summit, Trump claimed he has separately spoken with both Putin and Zelensky — and that both now want a deal. With casualty figures he cited running as high as 35,000 a month and a pointed shift in how the US supplies weapons to Europe, Trump is framing himself as the dealmaker who could end Europe's largest war since 1945.
Key Takeaways
President Trump on 7 July said both Putin and Zelensky want to end the war, following separate phone calls with each leader.
Remarks were made in Ankara alongside Turkish President Erdogan , ahead of the NATO Summit .
Trump cited monthly casualty figures ranging from 24,000 to 35,000 , though these could not be independently verified.
Trump said the US now sells military equipment to the European Union rather than providing it directly to Ukraine, contrasting with the Biden-era approach.
No formal negotiating timeline, venue, or framework has been announced as of 7 July .
Russia's invasion of Ukraine , launched in February 2022 , is Europe's largest armed conflict since the Second World War .
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday, 7 July expressed measured optimism that Russia and Ukraine are edging closer to a peace agreement, saying he believes both President Vladimir Putin and President Volodymyr Zelensky now want to end the war following his latest conversations with the two leaders. Trump made the remarks in Ankara alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the NATO Summit.
What Trump Said
Speaking before a bilateral meeting with Erdogan, Trump said he had held lengthy discussions with both leaders and anticipated movement in the coming weeks. 'I think they both want to make a deal. It's too bad it took so long, but I think there's going to be — something's going to come out,' he said.
Trump also invoked his broader record on conflict resolution. 'You know, I settled eight wars and I think we're going to be settling a ninth,' he said, while acknowledging that a settlement did not appear imminent. 'It doesn't seem likely now, but sometimes with war, see, when it's least likely, that's when it happens.'
Erdogan's Role in the Process
Turkish President Erdogan was credited by Trump as playing a constructive role in efforts to end the conflict. Trump noted that Putin holds Erdogan in high regard, a dynamic he appeared to view as an asset in brokering dialogue. Ankara has previously hosted peace talks between Russian and Ukrainian delegations in the early weeks of the war, and Turkey has maintained working relationships with both sides throughout the conflict.
Human Cost at the Centre of Trump's Argument
Trump repeatedly cited casualty figures to underscore the urgency of a settlement, though the numbers he cited could not be independently verified. 'Last month, 35,000, mostly soldiers, died. The month before that, it was 24,000. The month before that, it was 27,000. And the month before that, it was 29,000,' he said.
He described the battlefield as transformed by drone warfare. 'It's a drone war. It's a war of drones. It's a whole new technology. I've seen the battlefields... It's carnage, and it should stop,' he said.
Shift in US Military Aid Policy
Trump drew a sharp contrast with the approach of the previous administration on weapons supply. 'When Biden was here, he gave them hundreds of billions of dollars' worth of equipment. Now I sell the equipment... I sell it not to Ukraine; I sell it to the European Union. They pay us,' he said, signalling a transactional restructuring of US military assistance rather than an outright halt.
Context and What Comes Next
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, remains Europe's largest armed conflict since the Second World War. Trump's Ankara remarks come amid a broader diplomatic push ahead of the NATO Summit, where Ukraine's future security arrangements are expected to dominate discussions. Whether Trump's optimism translates into a formal negotiating framework remains to be seen, with no timeline or venue for talks announced as of Tuesday.
Point of View
A mediator with a mandate, or agreed preconditions. Erdogan's constructive role is real — Turkey has maintained credibility with Moscow and Kyiv — but Ankara's influence has limits that past ceasefire attempts exposed. The shift from aid to arms sales to the EU is the more structurally significant disclosure here, quietly redefining America's role from patron to vendor. Whether that shift gives Trump leverage or simply reduces US skin in the game is the question mainstream coverage is not yet asking.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Trump say about a Ukraine peace deal on 7 July?
Trump said he believes both Putin and Zelensky want to end the war, following lengthy phone calls with each leader. He expressed optimism that 'something's going to come out' in the coming weeks, though he acknowledged a settlement did not appear imminent.
Where did Trump make these remarks?
Trump spoke in Ankara, Turkey, on 7 July alongside Turkish President Erdogan before a bilateral meeting, ahead of the NATO Summit.
What role is Turkey playing in Ukraine peace efforts?
Trump credited Erdogan with playing a constructive role in efforts to end the conflict, noting that Putin holds Erdogan in high regard. Turkey previously hosted Russian-Ukrainian talks in the early weeks of the war and has maintained ties with both sides.
How has US military aid to Ukraine changed under Trump?
Trump said the US no longer supplies military equipment directly to Ukraine as it did under the Biden administration. Instead, he said, the US now sells equipment to the European Union, which pays for it.
How long has the Russia-Ukraine war been going on?
Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict is now in its fourth year and remains Europe's largest armed conflict since the Second World War.
