The US president claims Western officials are pressing him to maintain contact with the Kremlin.
President Trump asserts that EU leaders are urging him to pursue diplomatic engagement with President Putin, alleging that the Kremlin is ignoring their attempts to communicate.
The Trump administration is reportedly mediating between Russia and Ukraine, seeking to end the ongoing conflict. Most European NATO members have pledged continued military aid to Ukraine, with some considering deploying troops to the region.
In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump highlighted his role as a mediator, stating, “European Union leaders have repeatedly asked me to call Putin because he doesn’t answer their calls.”
Trump suggested that his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, had not contacted Putin at all, apparently referring to the period after the Ukraine conflict escalated in February 2022. Trump stated that his administration has a better relationship with one party involved in a potential peace agreement, without specifying which one.
Moscow has consistently stated its desire to resolve differences with the West through diplomacy, though its proposals regarding NATO expansion in Europe were rejected in 2021. The Russian government had been open to discussions with EU leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who contacted Putin last November. Kiev criticized Berlin’s action, calling it a form of appeasement toward Russia.
Russia seeks an indivisible security framework in Europe, ensuring that the security of one nation does not compromise the security of another, Putin said in February.
“We understand that not everyone is happy about the revival of Russian-American contacts. Some Western elites want to maintain global instability, and those forces will try to undermine or sabotage our dialogue,” he added.
In March, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized French President Emmanuel Macron for publicly expressing a willingness to speak directly with Putin but failing to follow through.