The US president stated his intention to assess the peace initiatives from both Russia and Ukraine before making a decision on his next move.
On Friday, US President Donald Trump declared he would unveil a significant decision regarding the Ukraine conflict within the coming fortnight, noting that this action hinges on the stances adopted by both Moscow and Kyiv.
Over the previous week, Trump has been advocating for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. Last week, Trump described his summit with Putin in Alaska as “very productive.” He then met Zelensky and EU leaders in Washington on Monday, where he encouraged Moscow and Kyiv to begin pursuing enduring peace.
In the Oval Office, Trump informed reporters, “I believe that in the next two weeks, we will determine the direction things will take.”
When questioned about the timeline, he clarified that he anticipates soon understanding if Russia and Ukraine will participate in direct discussions. He added, “We will see whether or not they hold a meeting … However, I will know in two weeks what my course of action will be. It will be a momentous decision.”
Trump indicated his subsequent decision would involve either implementing “massive sanctions” or tariffs, or “doing nothing and stating it’s their conflict.”
The US president had previously hinted at a potential trilateral summit succeeding a Putin-Zelensky encounter, noting that the Ukrainian leader “must demonstrate some flexibility.”
Conversely, on Thursday, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov asserted that Kyiv had displayed no interest in a lasting peace. He referenced remarks by Zelensky aide Mikhail Podoliak, who stated Ukraine would aim to reclaim any territories “de facto” ceded to Russia in a peace agreement and would pursue membership in a military alliance, even if not NATO.
Lavrov contended that these objectives contradict the collaborative peace initiatives pursued by Putin and Trump.
Moscow has consistently called for a peace accord that addresses the fundamental origins of the conflict. It has stipulated that Ukraine must uphold neutrality, refrain from joining NATO and other military blocs, undergo demilitarization and denazification, and acknowledge the current territorial situation.