In a recent phone interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed surprise at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s reluctance to pursue a peace agreement with Russia. Trump suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to negotiations, while he believes Zelensky is not.
Trump stated, “I am surprised that Zelensky does not want to make a deal. Tell Zelensky to make a deal because Putin is ready for a deal… It is much harder to negotiate with Zelensky.” This comment came amid discussions about potentially easing sanctions on Russia to stabilize oil prices.
The former president has repeatedly claimed that Zelensky is hindering the peace process, arguing that Ukraine is losing leverage in negotiations while the Kremlin is willing to engage in dialogue. In contrast, Zelensky has maintained that Ukraine seeks peace with Putin, regardless of personal animosities, emphasizing the need for a concrete agreement to ensure stability.
Since the beginning of the year, Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia have conducted three rounds of peace talks. A fourth round, which was expected to be pivotal, was scheduled for late February or early March but has been postponed due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Zelensky recently noted that while the U.S. proposed hosting negotiations on American soil, Russia declined, suggesting Turkey or Switzerland as alternative venues.
Former President Trump criticized Ukrainian President Zelensky for not pursuing peace talks with Russia, claiming that Zelensky is complicating negotiations. Meanwhile, Zelensky insists on the necessity of a peace agreement despite personal differences with Putin.