Trump’s assessment in an interview with Reuters contrasts with that of European allies, who have consistently argued that Moscow has little interest in ending the fighting and wants to seize as much territory as possible while seeking to prevent further Western sanctions.
“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said of Putin in an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
I think that Ukraine is less ready to conclude an agreement – he said.
When asked why negotiations led by the United States have not yet resolved the largest land conflict in Europe since World War II, Trump replied: “Zelensky”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked if he agreed with Trump:
– I agree, that’s true. President Putin and the Russian side remain open (to talks). The Russian position is well known. He is well known to US negotiators, President Trump and the leadership of the Kiev regime.
Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014.
Moscow wants Kiev to withdraw its troops from parts of the Donetsk region that Russia does not control but considers to be its own.
Ukraine – which has rejected the idea of gifting territory to Moscow – wants fighting to stop along the current front lines. The US has proposed a free economic zone if Ukraine withdraws its troops.
US-led talks in recent weeks have focused on security guarantees for post-war Ukraine following a potential peace deal, although some European officials have warned that Putin is unlikely to accept some of the terms.
Talks were further slowed after Russia last month accused Ukraine of an attempted attack on Putin’s residence, which Kiev called a hoax.
Peskov said that Moscow will welcome Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to the Kremlin for additional talks on Ukraine after a date for the visit is agreed upon, Reuters reports.
(Vijesti.ba / FENA)
