Trump Claims Ukraine, Not Russia, Impeding Peace Deal
On Wednesday, former President Donald Trump stated that Ukraine, rather than Russia, is responsible for obstructing a potential peace agreement to resolve the ongoing conflict that erupted from Russia’s large-scale invasion in 2022.
In an Oval Office interview with Reuters, Trump expressed his belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to conclude the war, while he viewed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as lacking commitment. “I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said, regarding Putin, adding, “I don’t think Ukraine is very ready to make a deal.”
When questioned about the reasons behind the U.S. intervention failing to bring peace, Trump pointed to Zelensky but didn’t elaborate on his reasoning. Instead, he mentioned the peace negotiations, suggesting that Zelensky was “struggling to get there.” Interestingly, Trump also indicated he was open to meeting Zelensky at the upcoming World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Moreover, Trump denied any awareness of a potential trip to Moscow involving his son-in-law Jared Kushner and White House envoy Steve Witkoff, contrasting with earlier reports.
The president’s comments sharply diverge from the views of certain European leaders. For instance, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently stated that Russia bears the responsibility to “demonstrate that it cares about peace,” highlighting the EU’s commitment to fostering Ukraine’s post-war economy.
Relations between Trump and Zelensky have seemed tense, especially following a heated exchange in the Oval Office in February 2025. During that meeting, Zelensky noted that the U.S. would still feel the consequences of Russia’s actions, despite the geographical distance. Trump counters this assertion.
In a somewhat conciliatory tone, Zelensky indicated an openness to collaborate with American leaders to bring an end to the conflict. He stressed the importance of swift cooperation with the U.S. on security and economic agreements, emphasizing productivity in these efforts.
