US President Donald Trump said that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, wishes to reach a settlement to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of being unwilling to strike a deal and called for a change in Ukrainian leadership to facilitate an agreement with Moscow.
Speaking to reporters, Trump added that Putin “very much wants to reach a settlement.”
US and international media reported that Trump’s remarks followed a roughly 90-minute phone call with the Russian president that covered the war in Ukraine and ways to achieve an agreement.
The US president criticized his Ukrainian counterpart for failing to hold elections since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, arguing that elections could have been held at earlier opportunities.
His comments come amidst escalating disagreements between Washington and Kyiv regarding the course of the war, economic pressures linked to energy prices, and the terms for ending the conflict.
Trump calls for new Ukrainian president
Trump separately called for the election of a new Ukrainian president willing to reach a deal with Russia; he held Zelenskyy responsible for the war’s continuation and criticized Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries, stating that they contribute to rising diesel prices in the United States.
These statements coincided with the announcement of a US-Russian deal regarding Russian diesel supplies—a move that drew criticism from Ukraine and Europe due to its potential impact on the economic pressure exerted on Moscow since the war began.
Zelenskyy criticized the agreement concerning Russian diesel, arguing that easing restrictions on Russian supplies provides Moscow with additional resources to sustain the war.
The move sparked concerns in Kyiv and European capitals that easing sanctions could weaken the pressure on Russia, particularly as mutual attacks on energy infrastructure continue.
Attempting to contain the escalation, the Ukrainian president offered to halt attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow ceased its strikes on Ukrainian energy facilities—a proposal linking mutual de-escalation to a halt in targeting critical infrastructure on both sides.
Recent statements reflect a widening rift between Trump and Zelenskyy regarding the conduct of the war and the terms of a settlement, particularly given Moscow’s insistence on retaining the Ukrainian territories it controls—a stance that remains a major obstacle to reaching a final agreement.
Several European nations have reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s leader, stressing that the country’s political leadership must be decided by the Ukrainian people themselves.