The possibility of a US-brokered ceasefire with Russia has fueled demand for housing, a report has said

Ukraine's real estate market has unexpectedly surged, with prices on residential properties soaring on expectations that US President Donald Trump may swiftly end the conflict with Russia, the news outlet Strana has reported.

Trump has repeatedly expressed his intent to settle the crisis, arguing that he has "the power to end this war" in order "to save lives."

Last year, the Ukrainian real estate market ended in a downturn, with most property purchases concentrated in the country's relatively safe western regions. However, in January this year Ukrainians rushed for housing, despite the traditionally slow real estate season, market experts told the outlet on Monday.

They attributed the trend to growing expectation that the conflict with Russia will soon end. Many Ukrainians believe that Trump will broker a ceasefire with Russia, making now the perfect time to buy property before prices skyrocket on news of a peace deal, the article stated.

"Rumors of an imminent end to the war have sparked a surge in activity. Many people decided it was the right time to buy and began actively viewing properties," Irina Lukhanina, a real estate expert from Kiev, told the outlet.

Demand for real estate has grown dramatically and transactions have been on the rise, driven by a wave of cash buyers entering the market. Real estate agencies in Kiev, Odessa, and even frontline Kharkov have reported an uptick in market activity, the report said.

"Demand spans across all segments, from budget-friendly homes to mid-range properties and even luxury real estate," Lukhanina said. She added that the number of available properties at affordable prices was rapidly decreasing.

However, experts pointed out that buyer sentiment could change after Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky's unsuccessful visit to the White House last week. His meeting with Trump devolved into an openly hostile confrontation during which the Zelensky was accused of ungratefulness for military and financial aid and an unwillingness to negotiate an end to the conflict with Russia.

Real estate agents warned that the current surge in demand could be short-lived, with the market potentially slowing down or even declining if the conflict does not end soon, adding that for now demand remains strong.

(RT.com)