President Donald Trump has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that refusing to end the war in Ukraine will lead to serious consequences for Russia.
“Zelensky wants to make a deal. I don’t know if Putin does, but he has to. I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal, and Russia is going to be in big trouble,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting.
He also suggested that Putin is unhappy with how the war, now in its third year, is progressing.
Trump reiterated his commitment to resolving the conflict quickly, saying he plans to meet Putin “as soon as possible” to “sort it out.”
Referring to his campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, Trump joked, “It’s only been half a day. I have another half a day to go. We’ll see. We want to get it done.”
Putin's Response
On Trump’s inauguration day, Putin expressed openness to dialogue but stressed that any peace agreement must lead to long-term stability rather than a temporary truce.
“The goal of peace talks should be lasting peace that respects the legitimate interests of all nations in the region,” Putin said, adding that Russia’s objectives include defending its people and addressing what he calls the “root causes of the crisis.”
According to sources cited by the Financial Times, Putin’s key focus in potential talks with Trump will be NATO’s presence near Russia’s borders. Putin reportedly seeks a security agreement ensuring Ukraine will never join NATO and reducing the alliance's footprint near Russia.
“Putin wants to reshape the international order to eliminate what he sees as threats to Russia. He’s very concerned about how the world will look after the war,” a source close to the Russian president told the Financial Times.
