In an interview on 14/1, former US President Donald Trump suggested that Russian leader Vladimir Putin intends to end the conflict with Ukraine, which has lasted nearly 4 years. "I think he's ready to make a deal," President Donald Trump said, adding that Ukraine is "less ready".
President Trump opined that Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is the reason US-brokered negotiation efforts have not been able to end the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv. When asked why he believed president Zelensky was hindering negotiations, Trump did not elaborate, but suggested that "he's having difficulty making that decision".
He stated he would meet Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week, though he implied that the two sides had not yet finalized official plans. President Trump said he was unaware of reports that his son-in-law Jared Kushner would travel to Russia with envoy Steve Witkoff, which US media had reported earlier that day.
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US President Donald Trump in Detroit, Michigan on 13/1. Photo: AP |
These statements suggest President Trump appears frustrated with his counterpart Zelensky. The relationship between the two leaders has long been volatile, despite gradually improving during Trump's first year in office.
At times, the US president appeared more willing to trust Russian President Putin's commitments than those of some allied leaders, a stance that displeased Ukraine and European nations. Some US lawmakers, including Republicans, also expressed disappointment.
In recent weeks, parties have focused negotiations on security guarantees for Ukraine, aiming to prevent Russia from resuming its offensive after a peace agreement. The US is reportedly pressuring Ukraine to concede territory it still controls in the Donbas region to reach an agreement with Russia, according to Reuters.
President Zelensky has rejected the possibility of territorial concessions to Russia, emphasizing that Ukraine's constitution does not permit this. He proposed establishing a demilitarized zone in Donbas, a proposal Russia rejected.
Nevertheless, Ukrainian officials have actively participated in recent negotiations chaired by Witkoff and Kushner. Meanwhile, some European officials expressed doubt about the likelihood of Putin accepting new terms agreed upon by Ukraine and the West.
Pham Giang (According to Reuters)
