Trump Says Zelenskyy, Not Putin, Is Holding Up A Ukraine Peace Deal | EUROtoday

WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump informed Reuters that Ukraine – not Russia – is holding up a possible peace deal, rhetoric that stands in marked distinction to that of European allies, who’ve persistently argued Moscow has little curiosity in ending its battle in Ukraine.

In an unique interview within the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin is able to wrap up his practically four-year-old invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy, the U.S. president mentioned, was extra reticent.

“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump mentioned of the Russian president. “I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”

Asked why U.S.-led negotiations had not but resolved Europe’s largest land battle since World War Two, Trump responded: “Zelenskyy.”

Trump’s feedback instructed renewed frustration with the Ukrainian chief. The two presidents have lengthy had a unstable relationship, although their interactions appear to have improved over Trump’s first yr again in workplace.

At instances, Trump has been extra keen to just accept Putin’s assurances at face worth than the leaders of some U.S. allies, irritating Kyiv, European capitals and U.S. lawmakers, together with some Republicans. In December, Reuters reported that U.S. intelligence studies continued to warn that Putin had not deserted his goals of capturing all of Ukraine and reclaiming components of Europe that belonged to the previous Soviet empire. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard disputed that report on the time.

After a number of matches and begins, U.S.-led negotiations have been centered in current weeks on safety ensures for a post-war Ukraine to make sure that Russia doesn’t invade it once more after a possible peace deal. In broad phrases, U.S. negotiators have pushed Ukraine to desert its japanese Donbas area as a part of any accord with Russia.

Ukrainian officers have been deeply concerned in current talks, which have been led on the U.S. aspect by particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Some European officers have forged doubt on the chance of Putin agreeing to some phrases lately hashed out by Kyiv, Washington and European leaders.

Trump informed Reuters he was not conscious of a possible upcoming journey to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner, which Bloomberg reported earlier on Wednesday.

Asked if he would meet Zelenskyy on the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, subsequent week, Trump mentioned he would however implied no plans had been set.

“I would – if he’s there,” Trump mentioned. “I’m going to be there.”

Asked why he believed Zelenskyy was holding again on negotiations, Trump didn’t elaborate, saying solely: “I just think he’s, you know, having a hard time getting there.”

Zelenskyy has publicly dominated out any territorial concessions to Moscow, saying Kyiv has no proper beneath the nation’s structure to surrender any land.

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by Gram Slattery; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Cynthia Osterman)