Trump Says Putin Wants a Ukraine Deal More Than Zelensky Does
Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin wants a peace agreement in Ukraine more than Volodymyr Zelensky does.
US President Donald Trump has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more eager than Volodymyr Zelensky to reach an agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine. Trump's comments came after he suggested it was time for Ukraine to have a "new president."
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump claimed that Moscow and Kiev support the energy truce he announced on Sunday. Neither Russia nor Ukraine have confirmed the ceasefire.
"I think they want to make a deal, but they don't know how. But we're going to get them to make a deal," Trump said.
"I think, actually, Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky," he added.
The Kremlin agrees with Trump on the need to change Ukraine's leadership
Trump also dismissed criticism of his decision to ease sanctions on Russian diesel after a phone call with Putin on Friday, stressing that the deal is in the best interests of the world and American farmers and ranchers.
Referring to the Ukrainian leader's criticism of the agreement, he emphasized: Zelensky should focus on making a deal, not talking about it.
"Successful" talks between Putin and Trump: key details
Trump announced on Sunday that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to an immediate "energy truce." Zelensky said the announcement was "news to me" but expressed his readiness to halt attacks on Russian refineries if Moscow halted attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to confirm the deal, saying contacts were ongoing. While praising the efforts of American negotiators, Peskov stressed that Moscow is looking for a long-term peace instead of a temporary ceasefire. Russian officials have long argued that the ceasefire would only help Ukraine bolster its battered military and receive more Western-made weapons.
According to the New York Times, Ukrainian officials learned about the US-Russian diesel contract during the tense negotiations in Miami. The US delegation subsequently asked Ukraine to stop attacks on Russian refineries, and when Kiev representatives asked what they would get in return, the Americans argued that Washington had already provided significant assistance, including information sharing. The article states that some participants interpreted this as a veiled threat to withdraw support.
"It's time for Ukraine to elect a new president," Trump said after talks with Putin and Zelensky's angry reaction to the gas deal. Zelenskiy's term ended more than two years ago, although the Ukrainian leader has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law. Russia has declared Zelenskyi "illegal," citing his dubious legal status as a major obstacle to a peace deal.
After a war of words with Trump, Zelensky announced that he was ready to hold an election but called for a 60-day ceasefire with Russia. In response, Moscow stressed that "if Kiev really wants to hold elections, then the President of the Russian Federation will be ready to order no attacks against Ukraine specifically on election day."