President Donald Trump continues to progress with statements that he wants to end the war in Ukraine, although it is not clear that his Russian counterpart is on the same wavelength that this could happen.
“It’s time to put an end to this bleeding and restore peace, and I think we are going to do it,” said Trump on Monday.
Trump met French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House to discuss the war in Ukraine, a decision that comes when the country marks three years of conflict with Russia.
While addressing journalists during Macron’s visit, Trump said that he believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin would accept European peacekeepers in Ukraine in the context of a potential agreement to end the war , noting that he had asked this question to the Russian chief.
However, Putin said on Monday that he had not discussed the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine in detail with Trump, and the Russian and American negotiation teams did not When they met last week in Saudi Arabia.
In remarks broadcast on state television, Putin also said that Russia had not excluded European countries participating in a peace regulation.
Putin and senior Russian officials had previously indicated that they would not accept Western forces in Ukraine.
Trump and Putin spoke for more than an hour Earlier this month. This conversation preceded the talks that occurred in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine was left outside by looking.
The end of the war is in the interest of Russia: Trump
Back in Washington, a journalist asked Trump why he believes he could trust Putin to negotiate on Ukraine.
The American president said he thought he was in the benefit of Russia to “conclude an agreement” to end the war.
“I really think he wants to conclude an agreement,” said Trump, referring to Putin. “I may be wrong, but I think he wants to conclude an agreement.”
Macron, at a joint press conference with Trump after their meeting, said their talks were productive and recognized that European nations should do more to strengthen defense on the continent. But Macron also warned of the capitulation of Russia.
“This peace should not mean a surrender from Ukraine,” said Macron. “This should not mean a ceasefire without guarantee. This peace must allow Ukrainian sovereignty.”
Ukraine has faced three years of total war since Russia launched its vast Large -scale invasion of his neighbor February 24, 2022. War has since killed thousands of civilians, movable millions People, and overwhelming daily life in Ukraine.
While Russia now controls almost a fifth of Ukraine, Moscow failed to overthrow the government in kyiv, despite three years of fighting.
The United States is divided with European allies at the UN
At the United Nations, the United States has separated with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three UN resolutions on Monday.
At the United Nations General Assembly, the United States has joined Russia to vote against a Ukrainian resolution supported by Europe which calls for the assault of Moscow and requires an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops.
The United States then refrained from voting on its own competing resolution after Europeans – led by France – managed to modify it so that Russia is clear of the aggressor. The vote took place as Trump welcomed Macron to Washington.
The United States then pushed a vote on its original project in the more powerful United Nations Security Council, where resolutions are legally binding and have a veto with Russia, China, Great Britain and France. The vote of the council of 15 members was 10-0 with five countries abstaining, all of Europe.
“ Very close ” on the agreement of minerals
Also on Monday, Trump said he thought that the United States and Ukraine were close to a resources agreement that Provide access to the United States to minerals of the rare land of Ukraine.
“It seems that we are close closely,” Trump told journalists at the start of his bilateral meeting with Macron.
He said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could potentially visit Washington this week or then sign the agreement.
The Trump administration has pressed Ukraine to agree At the agreement of minerals, the president saying that he wants to “equalize” for support Washington gave Kyiv In the middle of his fight with Russia. Trump had suggested He wanted to see the United States Paid somewhere in the district of 500 billion US dollars via such an arrangement.
But Zelenskyy and Ukrainian officials have so far refused to sign a proposal presented by US officials. Members of the Trump administration reported that it is A source of frustration for the American president.
Ukraine is also looking for future security guarantees in the context of any agreement, but Trump has not said whether the emerging agreement would include such guarantees.
“Europe will ensure that nothing happens,” said Trump.
Zelenskyy met 13 Western leaders – including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – in Kyiv MondayWhere they gathered for a summit on peace and security for Ukraine. There was no sign of American representation.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, speaking to kyiv on the occasion of the 3rd anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, called the Unjustified Brutal War of Russia Aggression And has promised more help and equipment for Ukraine’s fight.
American support in Ukraine was of vital importance to this point of war. But Trump made strongly critical comments on Ukraine and Zelenskyy, comments that have been criticized by other leaders and observers.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said recent words from Trump, including a suggestion that Ukraine began war And that its president was a “dictator”, was equivalent to “the most elegant song of victim I have ever seen”.
“To say that Ukraine began the war is nauseating is a pure propaganda of the Kremlin,” He said Telegraphic newspapers Ukraine: the last podcast.
