Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. PHOTO: Aaron Schwartz / UPI / Profimedia
US President Donald Trump blames Ukraine for the failure of peace negotiations. His statement completely contradicts the position of Europe, which claims that it is Russia that refuses to stop the war.
Vladimir Putin is ready to end the nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, Donald Trump said in an exclusive interview with Reuters in the Oval Office.
“I think he's ready to make a deal,” the White House leader said of the Russian president. “I think Ukraine is less ready to conclude an agreement,” he added.
Asked why US-led negotiations have yet to resolve Europe's biggest territorial dispute since World War II, Trump replied: “Zelensky.”
Trump's remarks come at a dramatic time for Ukraine, which is facing an unprecedented energy crisis following Russian winter attacks and the front line remains virtually frozen
After several failures, the US is now trying to get guarantees that Russia will not attack Ukraine in the future. Instead, the Americans are pressuring Ukraine to accept the loss of the Donbas region in order to make peace
Ukrainian officials participate directly in these intense discussions, along with Trump's team consisting of special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law. However, European leaders are skeptical: they doubt that Putin will accept the terms recently agreed between Kiev, Washington and Europe
Trump told Reuters he had no knowledge of a possible visit to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner, which Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. Asked if he would meet Zelenskiy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week, Trump said: “Yes, if he's there. I'll be there.”
Asked why he thinks Zelenskiy is hesitating in negotiations, Trump did not elaborate, saying only: “I think it's hard for him to get there.” So far, Volodymyr Zelenskiy has publicly ruled out any territorial concessions, stressing that according to the Constitution, Ukraine has no right to cede a single inch of land to Moscow.
