Trump refuses to call Putin obstacle to peace and mentions 'difficult meeting' with Zelenskyy
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump refused to call Russian President Vladimir Putin an obstacle to ending the war between Russia and Ukraine. Instead, he spoke critically about the Ukrainian leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reports CNN.
The American president, during an interview on the program Special Report on Fox News, does not call the Kremlin leader an obstacle to peace with Ukraine when asked by a journalist about Putin’s refusal to meet with Zelenskyy in Türkiye.
Trump expresses the opinion that the Russian President is tired of the war against Ukraine.
"I think Putin is tired of this whole thing. He’s not looking good, and he wants to look good. Don’t forget, this was supposed to end in one week," the US president says.
During the interview, Trump also shifts the focus to Zelenskyy, repeating his claim that the Ukrainian leader has no trump cards.
The American leader, in particular, talks about the regular complaints from his Ukrainian counterpart regarding the delivery of defensive aid.
"Look, I had a real rough session with Zelensky because I didn’t like what he said, and he was not making it easy. And I always said he doesn’t have the cards, and he doesn’t have the cards, you know, I’m being honest. He doesn’t have the cards," the US president tells Fox News journalist Bret Baier.
Trump also praises his Middle East representative, Steve Witkoff, again and talks about the expected meeting with Putin.
"He is at the table, and he wanted this meeting. And I always felt there can’t be a meeting without me, because I don’t think a deal is going to get through. We have to get together, and I think we’ll probably schedule it, because I’m tired of having other people go and meet and everything else," Trump says.
Question regarding the meeting between Trump and Putin
Recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that a personal meeting between the presidents of the US and Russia could supposedly move the process forward from a deadlock.
Later, Trump also stated that he does not expect any progress in negotiations about Ukraine until he meets with the President Putin.
Additionally, on May 15, President Zelenskyy said that Trump’s position involves putting pressure on both sides of the conflict. However, the head of state noted that the greatest burden from this pressure falls on Ukraine.
For more details about the meeting of the delegations from Kyiv and Moscow in Türkiye, read the separate article by RBC-Ukraine.
