Former national security adviser John Bolton stated that the meeting on Saturday between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was an “important” move towards reestablishing effective communication between world leaders.
“I believe the meeting held significance. This is a crucial step into a constructive dialogue between the two leaders,” Bolton, who often critiques Trump, expressed to CNN on Saturday.
He remarked, “Both the spokesperson for the president and Zelensky’s spokesperson indicated it was productive. So, it’s reasonable to view this positively. That doesn’t necessarily imply a major breakthrough, but it’s a plus, as it altered the public perception of what transpired in the Oval Office on February 28th.”
Trump and Zelensky engaged in a brief one-on-one discussion in Rome before attending Pope Francis’ funeral. This marked their first in-person meeting since the contentious previous Oval Office interaction.
“It was a good meeting. We had extensive one-on-one discussions. We aim for all the results we outlined. Our priority is to protect lives. We seek a complete and unconditional ceasefire. We desire a dependable and lasting peace to prevent future conflicts,” Zelensky commented following the meeting. “A very significant meeting that could become historic if we achieve joint results.”
Later on Saturday, Trump mentioned that Russian President Vladimir Putin might have been “targeting me” in light of the recent lethal assaults by Kremlin forces on several Ukrainian cities.
“In recent days, there has been no justification for Putin to launch missiles at civilian areas, cities, or towns,” Trump stated on The Truth Society. “Perhaps he isn’t interested in ending the conflict; he could just be retaliating against me, and I’m starting to think I need to approach this differently through ‘banks’ or ‘secondary sanctions.’ Too many lives are at risk!!!”
Previously critical of the administration’s approach to potential peace negotiations in Eastern Europe, Bolton suggested that Trump’s recent remarks about Putin do not necessarily signify a “tone shift,” but cautioned that Kremlin leaders should avoid underestimating his resolve.
“Trump has a limited attention span, so during that timeframe, it was similar to the message he intended to convey. I believe Putin should tread carefully when it comes to overvaluing Trump and his influence,” Bolton said on Saturday.
“Trump can alter his demeanor towards individuals, but President Putin has already secured numerous concessions from Trump, and despite Zelensky’s clear stance, Ukrainians appear willing to explore alternative possibilities regarding the trajectory of this situation,” he added. “Currently, there is a significant advantage on the Russian side, so President Putin likely doesn’t wish to jeopardize it, yet I think there remains room for negotiation.”
