Trump’s Take on Russia-Ukraine Negotiations

President Donald Trump has expressed the belief that Russian President Vladimir Putin is feeling significant pressure to bring an end to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine.

Speaking to reporters on Monday prior to his departure for a NATO summit, Trump mentioned that he has been in discussions with leaders from both involved nations.

“He [President Putin] knows Ukraine wants to end it. We are negotiating, and we’ll see if we can reach a conclusion,” Trump stated. “I think we’re much closer than people realize.”

“I think he’s under pressure. He wants this to end; Ukraine does, too. We’re in negotiations, and we can only hope for the best. This situation is awful…I really believe we’re closer to a resolution than people think. Putin wants this wrapped up—I’m quite sure about that—and President Zelensky is also eager to see it end. We’re heading to NATO to discuss it. I think we can get it done.”

Trump’s remarks followed a devastating attack by Russia, which launched 68 missiles and 351 drones targeting Kiev, resulting in at least 11 fatalities and numerous injuries.

This escalation came after a somewhat productive 90-minute phone call between Trump and Putin over the weekend, with Kremlin officials describing the conversation as “businesslike and constructive.” During this chat, Trump proposed serving as a mediator to help expedite a resolution.

“There is tremendous potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between our two nations. For this to happen, President Trump has highlighted the necessity of swiftly resolving the conflict in Ukraine,” Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov conveyed to reporters.

Additionally, Trump also had a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday, who mentioned he would reach out again on Independence Day to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, while also discussing the current situation on the front lines.