“There is a point where you have to do or shut up.” Trump, new statements about peace in Ukraine
Donald Trump. Credit Line: Andrew Harnik / Zuma Press / Profimedia
One day after seeming to criticize Russia's lack of actions regarding a Ukrainian war, US President Donald Trump came back with a vehement message about peace negotiations.
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“I think Ukraine-Russia could go in the right direction and you will find out soon. There is a point where you have to do or shut up. We'll see what is happening,” Trump told Air Force on Saturday, according to Reuters.
The comment of the US President comes one day after he showed his frustration towards Russia.
“Russia has to move. Too many people die, thousands a week, in a terrible and meaningless war-a war that should have never happened and it would have happened if I was president,” Trump said on a post on the Truth Social Platform.
The same day, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff made an unannounced trip to Santk Petersburg to meet with several Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin. After the discussions were completed, the Kremlin said that the two discussed aspects of a conflict resolution in Ukraine, without making any details.
The discussions in Moscow took place at a time when the dialogue between the US and Russia meant to agree on a cessation of fire in Ukraine seems to have stagnated due to disagreements on conditions for a complete break.
US continues efforts to end the Ukraine war
At the end of March, the White House announced that it had intermediates a partial cessation agreement between Russia and Ukraine, targeting the Black Sea and the infrastructure in the energy sector.
However, numerous violations of the agreement have been reported since then, and Kiev and Moscow have not yet fallen on the terms. Meanwhile, Putin has pointed out that he is reluctant to accept a complete cessation of hostilities.
Donald Trump has seemed to change his tone in recent weeks, declaring for NBC News that he is “very angry” on Vladimir a little after the multiple American attempts to negotiate an armistice.
The US President also threatened to introduce 50% rates against Russian oil countries if Moscow does not agree with a fire cessation. Russia and Belarus are not targeted by the taxes announced this month by the White House leader.
On the other hand, Russia continued to speak in an optimistic note about the change from the US relationships and the discussions that take place. On Friday, the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sergei Lavrov, said Washington is trying to address the “primary causes” of the conflict and described Trump's position in a positive register.
