Trump says Zelenskyy, not Putin, is delaying Ukraine peace deal
WASHINGTON, Jan 14 (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump told Reuters that Ukraine – not Russia – is delaying a potential peace deal, rhetoric that contrasts sharply with that of European allies who have consistently argued that Moscow has little interest in ending its war in Ukraine.
In an exclusive interview in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to conclude his nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy, the US president said, was more reticent.
“I think he’s ready to make a deal,” Trump said of the Russian president. “I think Ukraine is less prepared to reach an agreement.”
Asked why U.S.-led negotiations had not yet resolved Europe’s largest territorial conflict since World War II, Trump responded: “Zelenskyy.”
Trump’s comments suggested renewed frustration with the Ukrainian leader. The two presidents have long had a volatile relationship, although their interactions appear to have improved during Trump’s first year in office.
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Trump has at times been more willing to take Putin’s assurances at face value than the leaders of some U.S. allies, frustrating kyiv, European capitals and U.S. lawmakers, including some Republicans. In December, Reuters reported that U.S. intelligence reports continued to warn that Putin had not abandoned his goals of capturing all of Ukraine and recapturing parts of Europe that belonged to the former Soviet empire. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard disputed that report at the time.
‘HAVE A DIFFICULT GET THERE’
After several ups and downs, U.S.-led negotiations have focused in recent weeks on security guarantees for a postwar Ukraine to ensure that Russia does not invade again after a possible peace deal. Generally speaking, U.S. negotiators have pressed Ukraine to abandon its eastern Donbas region as part of any deal with Russia.
Ukrainian officials have been deeply involved in the recent talks, which have been led on the U.S. side by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law. Some European officials have cast doubt on the likelihood that Putin will agree to some terms recently discussed by kyiv, Washington and European leaders.
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Trump told Reuters he was not aware of a possible upcoming trip to Moscow by Witkoff and Kushner, which Bloomberg reported earlier on Wednesday.
Asked if he would meet Zelenskyy at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, next week, Trump said he would, but implied there were no plans in place.
“I would, if he’s there,” Trump said. “I’ll be there.”
When asked why he thought Zelenskyy was holding up negotiations, Trump did not elaborate, saying only: “I just think that, you know, he’s having a hard time getting there.”
Zelenskyy has publicly ruled out any territorial concessions to Moscow, saying kyiv has no right under the country’s constitution to cede any land.
(Reporting by Steve Holland; writing by Gram Slattery; editing by Colleen Jenkins and Cynthia Osterman)