Washington, 1 December 2025 (dpa/MIA) - US President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was optimistic following talks between representatives of Ukraine and his administration on ways to end the war in Ukraine.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, he referred to Ukraine having "difficult little problems" and said that the corruption scandal in the country was "not helpful."

Trump did not answer a journalist's question as to whether the issue would hinder the peace talks, stating shortly afterwards: "I think that there's a good chance we can make a deal."

Once again, Trump expressed his conviction that both Russia and Ukraine wanted an end to the war. The US president confirmed that his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week. He did not specify an exact date for the meeting.

Earlier on Sunday, Witkoff, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other US government officials met with a Ukrainian delegation in the US state of Florida to discuss a possible peace plan.

A US 28-point plan to end the war in Ukraine was recently made public, but it was criticized by many as a "Russian wish list." Europeans and Ukrainians later reworked the plan with US representatives, though several points remain contentious.

Earlier this month, Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies revealed that they were investigating millions of dollars worth of energy sector bribes.

The energy minister, Svitlana Hrynychuk, and her predecessor Herman Halushchenko, who had moved on to the Justice Ministry, were subsequently dismissed from their posts, while several people were arrested.

The main suspect, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's long-time confidant Tymur Mindich, has fled the country. A wanted notice has been issued for him.

Investigators also referred to corruption in the defence sector and contacts between Mindich and former defence minister Rustem Umerov relating to the purchase of body armour for the army.

Photo: EPA