US President Donald Trump has publicly accused Ukraine of stalling possible talks to end the war with Russia and said he believes Vladimir Putin is ready for a peace deal, he said in an interview with Reuters.
According to Trump, the Kremlin is showing more willingness to compromise than Kyiv.
“ I think he’s willing to make a deal,” Trump said of Putin. “I think Ukraine is less willing to make a deal .”
When asked by journalists why US-brokered negotiations have so far failed to stop the largest land conflict in Europe since World War II, Trump answered unequivocally: " Zelensky ."
He also stressed that Washington should put pressure on the Ukrainian president.
" We have to convince President Zelensky to support this ," Trump said, referring to a possible peace deal.
At the same time, when journalists asked why, in his opinion, Volodymyr Zelensky is dragging out the negotiation process, the US president did not give specific arguments. He limited himself to a general phrase: " I just think that, you know, it's difficult for him to get his way ."
Separately, Trump commented on Bloomberg's information about a possible trip to Moscow by his associates, Witkoff and Kushner. According to him, he knew nothing about such plans.
The US president also confirmed that he is ready to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos if the Ukrainian leader arrives there.
" I would meet if he is there. I will be there ," Trump said, while making it clear that there are no specific agreements about the meeting yet.
Trump's statements came against the backdrop of ongoing hostilities in Ukraine and the absence of any confirmed agreements between Kyiv and Moscow to end the war.
