Trump: Putin's Dislike of Zelenskyy Impeding Potential Summit

Trump Acknowledges Difficulty in Bringing Putin and Zelenskyy Together

Former US President Donald Trump has indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin's dislike of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a significant obstacle to holding a summit between the two leaders. Trump revealed his recent communications with Putin, expressing his belief that Putin's disapproval of Zelenskyy is impeding mediation efforts.

These statements come after intensive diplomatic efforts by Trump, including meetings with Putin, Zelenskyy, and European leaders, aimed at finding a solution to the Ukrainian-Russian conflict. Despite his initial optimism about the possibility of a bilateral meeting between the two leaders, it appears that Putin is delaying the matter, with his foreign minister stating that the meeting "needs an agenda" beforehand.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump stated, "He [Putin] doesn't like him [Zelenskyy]." He added, "I also have some people I don't like, so I don't meet with them." He pointed out that the Ukrainian and Russian leaders "don't get along."

Fate of Summit Depends on Russia and Ukraine's Decision

During his meeting with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Trump emphasized that the decision to hold the summit ultimately rests with Ukraine and Russia themselves. He said, "It's up to them. I always say, it takes two to tango. They should meet."

This stalemate in the issue of a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting represents the latest setback to Trump's efforts to end the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. After a shuttle diplomacy trip by Trump this month, there seemed to be a possibility of holding the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since the outbreak of the conflict, but this hope has faded as Putin hesitates to sit down with Zelenskyy.

Uncertainty Surrounds Russian Commitment to Meeting

The White House had previously expressed its belief that Putin agreed to meet with the Ukrainian President, noting that preparations were underway. However, the Kremlin has never confirmed this commitment, and no summit has been scheduled. Trump acknowledged that he "doesn't know if they will meet or not."

He added, "Maybe they will meet, maybe they won't. They want me to attend the meeting. I said, you should resolve the matter yourselves, this is a matter between you, not our business."

Trump's Threats of New Sanctions

Trump warned that Russia's unwillingness to sit down at the negotiating table could lead to "very serious consequences" and threatened to intervene if no progress is made within two weeks. However, Trump had previously threatened to impose new sanctions and tariffs on Russia if it did not end the conflict, but he has not fulfilled his promises to date.

Details about Trump's Communications with Putin

Trump revealed that he contacted Putin after his meeting with European leaders and Zelenskyy, suggesting holding a peace summit. He said, "Every conversation I had with him was good. But unfortunately, Kyiv or other places are bombed, and then I get very angry."

Despite this, Trump remains optimistic about the possibility of ending the conflict, saying, "I thought this would be the easiest thing in the seven problems I would solve."

Talks on Nuclear Arms Reduction

Trump indicated that he spoke with Putin about other issues, including nuclear arms reduction. He said, "We want to achieve nuclear disarmament. It's a very powerful force, and we talked about that. That's part of it, but we have to end the war first."

Potential Security Guarantees for Ukraine

Zelenskyy announced that he expects to unveil security guarantees supported by the United States and European partners "in the coming days." He wrote on social media, "Teams from Ukraine, the United States, and European partners are currently studying its structure."

Trump revealed the potential role that the United States could play in providing potential security guarantees for Kyiv. He had previously ruled out sending US troops to Ukraine after reaching a peace agreement, but said that the Air Force could help control Ukrainian airspace.

He said, "Europe will provide them with important security guarantees, which makes sense because they are close. But we will participate as supporters, to help them." He added, "I think we will reach an agreement, and I think that once an agreement is reached, you won't see a big problem. But we will be the supporters, because I want to stop seeing people being killed constantly."

Trump also indicated that the United States no longer deals directly with Ukraine in the field of military aid.

He said, "We deal with NATO, not directly with Ukraine. NATO asks for missiles, and Patriot missiles, and we give the missiles to NATO, and NATO pays the full amount, and then distributes them in the way it sees fit."

Trump Boasts About Being Called "President of Europe"

Trump claimed that some have called him "President of Europe" because European leaders respect him.

He said, "They call me 'President of Europe,' which is an honor for me. I love Europe, and I love those people, they are good people, and great leaders too."