When asked by reporters on the Air Force One private jet if it was time to press for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire after more than a month since a rare meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, Mr. Trump frankly replied: It doesnt feel like its time. But at the right time, if I had to do it, it would be very harsh.
During this week's visit to the UK, alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Mr. Trump admitted that finding a solution to end the conflict was "more difficult than expected" and expressed that "Mr. Putin really disappointed me".
Previously, the White House boss had repeatedly criticized both Russia and Ukraine, while affirming that this conflict is not Trumps war. On the social network Truth Social, he wrote: "It would never have happened if I had been president from the start. This is a war between Mr. Biden and Mr. Zelensky.
Although he has not yet pushed for a ceasefire, Mr. Trump warned that he is ready to impose harsher sanctions on Russia. However, he added the condition: All NATO members must stop buying Russian oil.
Speaking on Russian television, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Mr. Trump's stance has shifted "from requiring an unconditional ceasefire to seeking a more long-term and sustainable solution".
Russia continues to demand Ukraine recognizes new borders, abandons plans to join NATO and accepts military limits. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly denied it, saying he would not accept any agreement that would infringe on territorial sovereignty.
