Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, expressed on Friday that he believes the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could conclude before Christmas.
“Of course, this war stems from Putin’s aggression towards Ukraine. But let’s be realistic; it’s unlikely that Ukraine will manage to expel all Russian forces. Plus, Putin has consistently stated that he won’t seek to take Kiev,” he mentioned in a post on social media platform X.
Graham continued, “If a trilateral meeting occurs involving President Trump, Zelensky, and Putin, I think there’s a reasonable chance this war could wrap up by Christmas.”
On Friday, Trump, accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkov, held a meeting with Putin and Russian Foreign Affairs Advisor Yuri Ushakov at the Elmendorf Richardson joint base near Anchorage, Alaska. Following the meeting, Trump remarked that some significant progress had been made, although details on achieving a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine remain unclear.
“We didn’t finalize anything, but there’s hope,” Trump stated.
During an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Trump indicated that the responsibility for achieving a peace deal rests largely on Zelensky. He suggested that a key issue would need to be settled before a truce can be established. “We spent nearly three hours discussing extensively and reached several agreements. However, there are still a couple of critical points that need to be addressed,” he noted.
Trump also mentioned his openness to participating in future meetings between Putin and Zelensky, emphasizing, “If they want me there, I’m willing to be involved. They’re currently organizing a follow-up meeting… not that I wouldn’t want to be there; I genuinely want to see this through. There’s a decent chance we could make progress.”
Graham, who spearheaded the sanctions bill against Russia, asserted that if the trilateral talks don’t materialize, it may be necessary to impose severe tariffs—500% on imports from countries that purchase uranium, gas, and oil from Russia. He suggested that failing to act would mean punishing those who opt for cheaper Russian energy sources. “Good job, President,” he remarked.
Graham also hinted that any resolution might involve land exchanges between the two Eastern European nations, emphasizing, “While not all Russians can be driven out, any deal has to be made by Ukraine, not the U.S. However, Trump could take action once the war ends. I’m feeling a bit more optimistic than before.”
