U.S. President Donald Trump stated that he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin is interested in achieving peace in Ukraine and noted that it is easier for him to deal with Russia when it comes to conflict resolution.
Speaking at the White House on Friday, Trump answered questions from journalists. When asked whether he trusts Putin’s claims about wanting to end the war despite ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine, Trump responded: “Yes, I believe him.”
He also reiterated his earlier statement on Truth Social, emphasizing that Russia continues to inflict significant damage on Ukraine on the battlefield. According to Trump, negotiating an end to the conflict is more difficult with Ukraine than with Russia.
Frankly, it’s harder for me to deal with Ukraine. They have no cards. You know, there will be a meeting in Saudi Arabia soon. We believe that, in terms of reaching a final settlement, it might be easier to negotiate with Russia. It’s surprising because they hold all the cards, Trump said.
The politician noted that both sides of the conflict are interested in its resolution and also recalled his “good relationship” with Putin despite accusations of a “Russian conspiracy.” Trump also explained his decision to halt military aid to Ukraine.
On March 4, it was reported that he had decided to stop all arms supplies to Kyiv, including shipments that were already en route. On March 5, it became known that intelligence sharing had also been suspended, including information about Russian missile launches.
