US President Donald Trump on Thursday predicted a \u201cvery big\u201d deal with Russia involving not only the Ukraine war but \u201call of Europe,\u201d after meeting Russian leader Vladimir Putin\u2019s envoy at the White House.\n<\/p>\n
Trump revealed that he had an unscheduled meeting with Kirill Dmitriev, who was at the White House for talks with Ukrainian officials hosted by US First Lady Melania Trump.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t tell you what I discussed. But I\u2019m just telling you, it\u2019s going to be an agreement, it\u2019s going to be a big agreement,\u201d Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be very big. It\u2019s going to involve more than Ukraine, and I could even say it might involve all of Europe. It\u2019s going to be a big, beautiful agreement, and everyone\u2019s going to be thrilled.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trump said he had not met with Ukrainian officials who were also at the White House on Thursday.<\/p>\n
The US president\u2019s comments will fuel European fears that Trump is pivoting towards the Kremlin and will push Ukraine into an unfavourable deal to end Russia\u2019s invasion.\n<\/p>\n
NATO capitals are also watching to see if Trump, who has hinted at withdrawing troops from the continent, will meet Putin\u2019s maximalist demands to reduce US influence in Europe.<\/p>\n
But Trump, who promised to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office in January 2025, has also repeatedly touted looming peace deals in the past which never materialised. <\/p>\n