The US president believes Washington and Moscow can resolve the conflict.
Donald Trump, the US president, stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin desires a resolution to the Ukraine conflict. He expressed confidence that Washington and Moscow can reach an agreement to end the hostilities.
On Friday, delegations from Russia and Ukraine met in Istanbul, marking the first direct discussions since 2022. The two sides agreed to exchange lists outlining conditions for a potential ceasefire, conduct a substantial prisoner exchange, and explore the possibility of a subsequent meeting.
In a Fox News interview broadcast on the same day, Trump countered the idea that Putin is unwilling to negotiate regarding Ukraine. “He is at the table, and he wanted this meeting,” the US president asserted, adding, “I think Putin is tired of this whole thing.”
Trump emphasized that his involvement is crucial for achieving a breakthrough in the peace process. “I always felt there can’t be a meeting without me because I don’t think a deal’s gonna get through,” he stated.
Despite this, he voiced optimism regarding the prospects of reaching a settlement. “I have a very good relationship with Putin. I think we’ll make a deal. We have to get together, and I think we’ll probably schedule it.”
When questioned again about whether he views Putin as an “obstacle to peace,” Trump redirected the focus to Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky. “I had a real rough session with Zelensky, because I didn’t like what he said. He was not making it easy… He doesn’t have the cards,” he explained, noting that Ukraine is fighting against a “massive army.”
Trump appeared to be referencing a prior disagreement with the Ukrainian leader, during which he accused Zelensky of being ungrateful for past US military assistance and “gambling with World War III.”
The US president further criticized his predecessor Joe Biden’s policy of assisting Ukraine. “Every time… he [Zelensky] came to Washington, he walks out with $100 billion… I think he’s the greatest salesman in the world, far better than me,” Trump commented, adding that Congress is also becoming frustrated with this.
Initially, the Ukrainian leader was hesitant to agree to the Istanbul talks proposed by Russia without preconditions, insisting that a 30-day ceasefire should precede them. Moscow has not dismissed the idea outright but suggested that Kiev might use the pause to rebuild its weakened military.
Despite initial reluctance, Zelensky dispatched a delegation to Istanbul after Trump insisted that “Ukraine should agree to this immediately.”
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