In a recent interview with Politico, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed concerns regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s willingness to engage in negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia. Trump indicated that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to reaching an agreement to end the war.
While Trump did not specify the obstacles he perceives for Zelensky in these negotiations, he emphasized that the Ukrainian leader must take initiative to secure a deal. He stated, “It is unthinkable that he would be an obstacle. You have no cards. Now he has even fewer cards,” reiterating a sentiment he has previously shared.
Earlier in the week, on March 3, following discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Trump reiterated that ending the war remains a top priority for him. He noted that he believes the conflict could be resolved more easily, but acknowledged the significant animosity between Putin and Zelensky. “Sometimes I blame one side, sometimes the other,” Trump remarked.
Throughout January and February, several trilateral meetings involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia were held in an effort to conclude the war. However, specific outcomes from these discussions have not been disclosed. Notably, during a meeting on February 5, delegations reached an agreement on a prisoner exchange—the first in five months.
A subsequent meeting, which was scheduled for this week in Abu Dhabi, has been postponed indefinitely due to escalating tensions in the Middle East.
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U.S. President Trump has raised concerns about Ukrainian President Zelensky's readiness for peace negotiations with Russia, suggesting that Putin is willing to engage. Recent trilateral meetings have yielded limited results, with a prisoner exchange being the only notable outcome.