During a recent bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former U.S. President Donald Trump refrained from directly attributing the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
When asked by reporters whether he believed Putin bore the greatest responsibility for the war, Trump chose to sidestep the question. “I don’t want to comment on that because I’m trying to get a resolution to the conflict. It doesn’t make it easier,” he stated.
Trump emphasized that his primary focus is on achieving a swift cessation of hostilities and finding a diplomatic solution acceptable to both sides.
He also mentioned having engaged in a series of diplomatic discussions with leaders from both Russia and Ukraine. While he described these dialogues as constructive, he acknowledged that the situation is more complex than anticipated. “I’ve ended eight wars, and honestly, I thought this would be one of the easiest, but they don’t like each other very much, and that makes everything much more complicated. However, I had two good conversations with President Zelensky and President Putin,” Trump noted.
At the recent G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump remarked that Putin is currently in a weaker position regarding the Ukraine conflict compared to earlier stages of the war. European media reported that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz viewed this as a potential opening for diplomatic resolution.
In a strategic move, Trump proposed a geopolitical barter to his European partners, indicating his willingness to increase pressure on the Kremlin. However, he stipulated that G7 leaders must assist in ensuring security in the Strait of Hormuz and support a new agreement concerning Iran.
This initiative was interpreted by diplomats at the summit as a sign of the White House’s readiness to take more active steps toward achieving peace.
Amid these discussions, a meeting took place involving Ukrainian President Zelensky, Chancellor Merz, and Trump. Both Zelensky and Merz conveyed their readiness for dialogue but insisted that peace negotiations with Russia must begin from a “correct position” grounded in international law and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Former President Trump refrained from directly blaming Putin for the Ukraine conflict during a meeting with India's Prime Minister. He emphasized his focus on diplomatic resolutions while engaging in discussions with both Russian and Ukrainian leaders.