US President Donald Trump may seek to bring the hot phase of the war in Ukraine to a halt ahead of the mid-term US congressional elections on November 3, according to the Office of the President of Ukraine.
RBC-Ukraine, citing unnamed sources in the Ukrainian government, reports that Kyiv expects Washington, using a metonym without stating to which political party or branch of government it referred, to attempt to “calm down†the war before the autumn vote.
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“We assume that the Americans intend to try to ‘calm down' everything before their elections in the fall,†one source told the outlet.
Sources also note that working contacts between Ukraine and the United States on resolving the war are continuing.
Officials believe Trump could become more actively involved in the Ukraine issue due to the risk of the Republican Party losing control of Congress after the elections.
According to a source at Bankova Street, the White House sees the tense pre-election environment as a factor that could push Trump toward more decisive steps to achieve progress on the Russo-Ukrainian War. Meanwhile, contacts between the Ukrainian government and Trump officials remain ongoing.
One unidentified RBC-Ukraine source described a possible scenario of freezing the war along the current front line, provided that Ukraine receives security guarantees, as “still a very good†option.
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Officials stress that such a scenario depends on multiple factors, including the situation on the battlefield and Russia's willingness to reconsider its war aims.
The Trump administration remains ready to help mediate an end to Russia's war against Ukraine, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last Tuesday after Moscow carried out a major attack on Kyiv and warned of further strikes on the capital.
Rubio made the remarks after a phone call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who, according to Russia's Foreign Ministry, urged Washington to evacuate diplomats from the US embassy in Kyiv.
Rubio said the US is “ready and prepared†to help facilitate an end to the war, adding that the opportunity to do so may arise at some point.
President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Memorial Day message to the US, thanked Americans for their support and said Russia's war was not only against Ukraine but also against a “free, democratic, united Europe.â€
He said Ukraine was grateful for US support and stressed that America's role in ending the war could be one of leadership, as it is a country “which Russia fears.â€
Zelensky added that the war must be ended “in a dignified way,†according to his post on X.
Earlier, Rubio said the White House remains prepared to play a mediating role in efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine, but acknowledged that peace talks are currently stalled and have produced no results, speaking to reporters on May 22.
Rubio said the process had failed to deliver progress and claimed that the US is not interested in “endless cycles of meetings†without outcomes. He added that the Trump administration remains open to facilitating negotiations if they become “productive and not counterproductive,†but noted that no such talks are currently taking place.
Rubio stated that the White House believes that a negotiated settlement remains the only viable path to ending the war, arguing it would not end with a military victory for either side. Rubio also said Trump remains interested in supporting diplomatic efforts, but said momentum has stalled in recent months.
He rejected claims that the Trump administration had pressured either Ukraine or Russia into specific positions, saying reports of such pressure were “not true,†and suggested that while other actors could theoretically take on mediation, no viable alternative framework currently exists.
Zelensky said Ukraine and its partners are focusing on intensifying diplomatic efforts and are awaiting US feedback on possible formats for future negotiations. He reiterated that Ukraine is seeking to resume meaningful talks involving both the US and European partners.
Zelensky also said Kyiv continues to strengthen its position on the battlefield while maintaining pressure on Russian forces, and has supported ideas to expand negotiation formats to include European mediators such as Britain, France, and Germany.
Earlier reports suggested Ukraine is exploring broader European-led diplomatic formats, including revival of coordinated “E3†engagement, amid growing doubts in Kyiv over the effectiveness of US-only mediation. Negotiations between the Ukrainian government, the White House, and Kremlin have previously taken place in Abu Dhabi, Geneva, and other formats but have since stalled.
