Donald Trump, United States president, has said Ukraine, not Russia, is holding up efforts to end the war, striking a sharply different tone from European allies who argue Moscow has little interest in peace.
Speaking to Reuters in an exclusive interview at the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, was ready to end his nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, while Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s president, was reluctant to move forward.
“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said of Putin. “I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”
Read also: Putin signals openness to US deal but tells Ukraine to pull back or face more war
Pressed on why the United States led negotiations had failed to resolve Europe’s biggest land war since World War Two, Trump answered with a single word. “Zelenskiy.”
The remarks suggest renewed frustration with the Ukrainian leader, despite signs that relations between the two men had improved during Trump’s first year back in office. Their relationship has long been volatile, shaped by disagreements over aid, diplomacy, and the terms of any future settlement.
Read also: Ukraine backs ‘essence’ of peace deal with Russia but sensitive issues linger – Reuters
Trump has at times appeared more willing to accept Putin’s assurances at face value than many of Washington’s allies. That approach has unsettled Kyiv, European capitals, and even some United States lawmakers, including members of his own Republican Party.
In December, Reuters reported that United States intelligence assessments continued to warn that Putin had not abandoned broader ambitions in Ukraine and beyond, including reclaiming territory once controlled by the Soviet Union. Tulsi Gabbard, director of national intelligence, publicly disputed that assessment at the time.
Read also: Trump accuses Ukraine of ‘zero gratitude’ over US war support
Recent negotiations have focused on security guarantees for Ukraine after any ceasefire, aimed at preventing a renewed Russian invasion. According to Reuters, United States negotiators have pushed Kyiv to consider giving up control of the eastern Donbas region as part of a deal, a proposal that has alarmed Ukrainian officials.
Talks have involved senior figures on the United States side, including Steve Witkoff, special envoy, and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Some European officials remain sceptical that Moscow would honour or even accept the terms under discussion.
Read also: US envoy heads to Moscow as Washington pushes for Ukraine peace deal
Asked why he believed Zelenskiy was holding back, Trump offered little detail. “I just think he’s, you know, having a hard time getting there,” he said.
Zelenskiy has consistently rejected any territorial concessions, insisting that Ukraine’s constitution does not allow the government to give up sovereign land.
