Trump raises doubts over Putin's dedication towards resolving the Ukraine conflict
U.S. President Donald Trump questions Putin's commitment to ending Ukraine conflict
In a scathing post on his social media platform Truth Social, President Trump took a swipe at Russian President Vladimir Putin, questioning his dedication to ending the ongoing war in Ukraine. This remark came immediately after Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral in Rome.
"It's bloody absurd that Putin's been launching missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns the past few days," Trump wrote, referring to the Russian military strikes in Ukraine. "It's making me think Putin doesn't want to cease this war; he's just using me to tap dance around it. Maybe he needs to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?'"
The proposed idea of imposing additional sanctions on Russia enjoys bipartisan support in the U.S. A group of 50 senators, which accounts for an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, earlier this month introduced a bill that would impose further sanctions on Russia.
For weeks now, Trump has been championing a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. On Friday, he hinted that a deal could be on the brink of being finalized, urging both Russia and Ukraine to engage in "very high-level talks." Earlier in the week, Trump lambasted Zelenskyy for turning down the terms of any peace agreement that would enable Russia to hold onto Crimea, which it annexed against Ukraine's wishes in 2014.
Zelenskyy, following his meeting with Trump in Rome, expressed his gratitude for the encounter, describing it as "good" and "symbolic." The Ukrainian president expressed hope that their discussion would lead to positive outcomes, specifically for the protection of Ukrainian lives, achieving a full unconditional ceasefire, and realizing a lasting, war-ending peace.
Zelenskyy also claimed that the potential outcomes could become historic if they result in a joint victory. In his Truth Social post, Trump laid the blame for Crimea's annexation squarely on his predecessors, Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.
"Obama is the one who gave Russia the green light to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a single shot being fired," Trump wrote, adding later, "I'm just trying to fix the shitshow they left me with."
This meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy was their first since the Ukrainian president's visit to the White House in February. On that occasion, an Oval Office meeting turned chaotic, with Trump, Zelenskyy, and Vice President JD Vance trading barbs, resulting in a shouting match.
While in Rome, Zelenskyy also paid visits to European leaders, such as U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron, writing on X, shared that he had enjoyed a highly positive exchange with Zelenskyy.
"Ending the war in Ukraine is our shared goal with President Trump. Ukraine is prepared for an unconditional ceasefire. President Zelensky reiterated this to me today. He's eager to work with the Americans and Europeans to implement it. Now it's up to President Putin to show he's committed to peace," Macron stated.
Commenting on his discussion with Starmer, Zelenskyy stated that their talks focused on the actions required to establish a full, unconditional ceasefire and to further strengthen security guarantees.
- President Trump, on his Truth Social platform, expressed concern over Putin's commitment to ending the war in Ukraine, suggesting that further sanctions or 'Banking' measures might be necessary.
- The proposal to impose additional sanctions on Russia has bipartisan support in the U.S., with a group of 50 senators introducing a bill for further sanctions earlier this month.
- General news headlines often weigh the impact of Putin's decision to continue military strikes in Ukraine on the prospects of a ceasefire and lasting peace.
- During a meeting with Putin on the sidelines of Pope Francis' funeral, Trump thanked Zelenskyy for his efforts towards peace in Ukraine, urging both Russia and Ukraine to engage in high-level talks to achieve a ceasefire and a lasting end to the war.
