President Donald Trump on Friday mentioned he is had “good talks” with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin however not with Ukraine because the U.S. pushes negotiations to finish the three-year battle that started when Putin’s forces invaded its sovereign neighbor.
The remark, made at a gathering of Republican and Democratic governors on the White Home, comes as Trump ramps up criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“I’ve had superb talks with Putin,” Trump mentioned. “And I’ve had not such good talks with Ukraine.”
“They have no playing cards, however they play it powerful,” Trump mentioned of Ukraine. “However we’re not we’re not going to let this proceed. This struggle is horrible. It would not ever have occurred if I have been president. Nevertheless it did occur.”
President Donald Trump speaks on the Governors Working Session on the White Home in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
At a high-level assembly held in Saudi Arabia this week, U.S. and Russian officers agreed to begin working collectively on peace negotiations — marking a seismic diplomatic shift in U.S. international coverage.
Notably absent from the talks was Ukraine. Zelenskyy criticized the U.S. and Russia for going over Ukraine’s head, and mentioned his nation is not going to settle for any settlement they do not have a hand in negotiating.
Trump responded by calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” and framed Zelenskyy as an illegitimate chief because of the postponement of the nation’s 2024 presidential elections till after the struggle, beneath the nation’s structure.
The White Home has been repeatedly requested if Trump additionally considers Putin a dictator, however officers, together with nationwide safety adviser Michael Waltz, have dodged the query.
Zelenskyy pushed again, pointing to polls that present him above 50% and describing Trump’s assertion as parroting Russian “disinformation.”
Trump continued to lash out at Zelenskyy on Friday.
“I have been anticipating years, and I have been watching him negotiate with no playing cards. He has no playing cards. And also you get sick of it. You simply get sick of it. And I’ve had it,” Trump mentioned of Zelenskyy throughout a interview with Fox Information Radio’s Brian Kilmeade.
U.S. Particular Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak throughout their assembly in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb. 20, 2025.
Sergei Supinsky/AFP by way of Getty Pictures
Through the interview, Trump was repeatedly pressed about who was accountable for the struggle however he sidestepped every time. He at one level appeared to concede that Russia did assault Ukraine, however nonetheless blamed Ukraine for not making concessions.
“Each time I say, oh, it is not Russia’s fault, I at all times get slammed by the pretend information. However I am telling you, Biden mentioned the mistaken issues,” Trump mentioned. “Zelenskyy mentioned the mistaken issues.”
Trump appeared significantly upset a couple of mineral sources deal that Ukraine rejected. A U.S. official with information of the negotiations mentioned a brand new model of the proposal has been placed on the desk.
Whereas Trump has been important of Zelenskyy, Retired Gen. Keith Kellogg — the U.S. particular envoy for Ukraine — praised him as “brave” after assembly with him Thursday.
“A protracted and intense day with the senior management of Ukraine. Intensive and constructive discussions with [Zelenskyy] the embattled and brave chief of a nation at struggle and his proficient nationwide safety group,” Kellog wrote on his private X account.