Trump Says Putin and Zelensky Are Prepared to Negotiate a Deal
The US president has expressed confidence in his mediation efforts regarding the ongoing conflict. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump asserted that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine are willing to reach a peace agreement. He has been working...
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The US president has expressed confidence in his mediation efforts regarding the ongoing conflict.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump asserted that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine are willing to reach a peace agreement. He has been working to broker a ceasefire between the two nations since February.
In a conversation with a reporter aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about his interactions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated, “I think he’s ready to make a deal. And I think that President [Vladimir] Putin is ready to make a deal.” While he did not provide specific details, he mentioned that the US was engaged in “a lot of good conversations about Ukraine and Russia.”
Trump emphasized the urgency of the situation, remarking, “We like to see [the conflict] stopped as soon as possible because thousands of people have been killed in a week.” He added, “Europe has not been successful in dealing with President Putin, but I think I will be successful.”
These remarks coincided with the visit of Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, to Washington, where he reportedly met with America’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Dmitriev conveyed to reporters that discussions largely centered around steps to normalize bilateral relations that had been frozen by the Biden administration in 2022. He expressed optimism about a “positive dynamic” in the talks, suggesting that further meetings are essential to resolving existing differences.
In a related note, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, shared with Fox Business on Wednesday that Trump has experienced “frustration” with both Putin and Zelensky. Nevertheless, he expressed hope regarding the negotiations, indicating that both sides were “on the precipice” of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire.
In the background, Moscow has accused Kiev of violating the energy truce that Trump facilitated last month. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces attacked fuel depots, gas facilities, and the electrical grid, despite a commitment to refrain from such actions during a 30-day pause. Conversely, Kiev maintains that Russia is not adhering to the same agreement.
Moscow insists that a lasting settlement can only be reached if the US and Ukraine confront the “root causes” of the conflict. Russia's demands include Ukraine abandoning its intentions to join NATO and recognizing Crimea, along with four other former Ukrainian regions, as Russian territory.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump asserted that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine are willing to reach a peace agreement. He has been working to broker a ceasefire between the two nations since February.
In a conversation with a reporter aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked about his interactions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He stated, “I think he’s ready to make a deal. And I think that President [Vladimir] Putin is ready to make a deal.” While he did not provide specific details, he mentioned that the US was engaged in “a lot of good conversations about Ukraine and Russia.”
Trump emphasized the urgency of the situation, remarking, “We like to see [the conflict] stopped as soon as possible because thousands of people have been killed in a week.” He added, “Europe has not been successful in dealing with President Putin, but I think I will be successful.”
These remarks coincided with the visit of Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s investment envoy, to Washington, where he reportedly met with America’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff. Dmitriev conveyed to reporters that discussions largely centered around steps to normalize bilateral relations that had been frozen by the Biden administration in 2022. He expressed optimism about a “positive dynamic” in the talks, suggesting that further meetings are essential to resolving existing differences.
In a related note, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, shared with Fox Business on Wednesday that Trump has experienced “frustration” with both Putin and Zelensky. Nevertheless, he expressed hope regarding the negotiations, indicating that both sides were “on the precipice” of achieving a comprehensive ceasefire.
In the background, Moscow has accused Kiev of violating the energy truce that Trump facilitated last month. The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces attacked fuel depots, gas facilities, and the electrical grid, despite a commitment to refrain from such actions during a 30-day pause. Conversely, Kiev maintains that Russia is not adhering to the same agreement.
Moscow insists that a lasting settlement can only be reached if the US and Ukraine confront the “root causes” of the conflict. Russia's demands include Ukraine abandoning its intentions to join NATO and recognizing Crimea, along with four other former Ukrainian regions, as Russian territory.
Olivia Brown for TROIB News
