U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters on Wednesday that Ukraine, rather than Russia, is slowing progress toward a potential peace agreement in the nearly four-year conflict with Moscow.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said he believed Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to finalize a deal, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is less willing to compromise.
“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said of Putin. “I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”
When asked why U.S.-led negotiations had not yet resolved Europe’s largest land conflict since World War Two, Trump responded simply: “Zelenskyy.” He added that the Ukrainian leader is “having a hard time getting there,” without providing further detail.
Trump’s remarks contrast with the position of European allies, who have consistently argued that Moscow has limited interest in ending the war and continues to pursue territorial objectives in Ukraine. U.S. intelligence assessments, reported in December, have warned that Putin has not abandoned ambitions to reclaim parts of Ukraine and other former Soviet territories, though Trump has at times publicly accepted assurances from Moscow at face value.
U.S.-led talks in recent weeks have focused on security guarantees for a post-war Ukraine, including proposals that Kyiv cede control over the eastern Donbas region as part of a broader accord. U.S. negotiators, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, have been deeply involved in discussions with Ukrainian officials. European diplomats, however, have questioned whether Moscow would accept all the terms proposed by Kyiv, Washington, and European partners.
Trump also addressed his upcoming schedule, indicating he plans to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos next week and would meet with Zelenskyy if the Ukrainian leader is present. He did not confirm any other diplomatic trips or meetings with Russian officials.
The Ukrainian government has consistently rejected any territorial concessions, with Zelenskyy emphasizing that the constitution does not allow the country to cede land. Trump’s statements mark a continued divergence from the positions of European allies and Ukrainian officials, underscoring the complexities of negotiating an end to the war.
