In a significant development, President Donald Trump is seeking an immediate meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
From the Oval Office Thursday, Trump said, “He’s (Zelenskyy) ready to negotiate a deal, he’d like to stop. Somebody that has lost a lot of soldiers, and so did Russia, lost a lot, and Russia lost more soldiers. They lost eight hundred thousand soldiers. Would you say that’s a lot? That’s, that’s a lot.”
Earlier Thursday, Trump announced that his administration’s efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine are “hopefully underway,” as he reaffirmed his commitment to ending the ongoing conflict. Speaking via videolink to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump expressed his desire to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon to negotiate an end to the war.
READ: Trump Threatens New Tariffs On Russia Over Ukraine War, Pressures Kremlin For Swift Resolution
“I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon to get that war ended,” Trump told global leaders at the forum. His comments come just days after he issued a stern warning to Moscow, threatening to impose “high levels” of sanctions and tariffs if Russia does not “make a deal” to end its aggression in Ukraine.
Trump’s statements mark a renewed push by his administration to pursue diplomatic solutions to the nearly three-year conflict, which has caused widespread devastation across Ukraine and strained international relations.
The president’s remarks come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reportedly signaled his readiness to engage in talks to reach a peaceful resolution, a potential shift in Kyiv’s previous stance of demanding a full Russian withdrawal as a precondition for negotiations.
READ: US Report Implicates Putin In Forced Deportation And “Re-education” Of Ukrainian Children
Earlier this week, Trump indicated that his administration is prepared to levy additional economic penalties on Russia, signaling a tougher stance if a peace deal is not reached promptly. The proposed sanctions and tariffs are aimed at increasing the financial strain on the Kremlin and compelling it to negotiate terms favorable to ending the war.
“Russia must understand that continued aggression will only lead to further economic hardship,” Trump said in a statement earlier this week. “We will not hesitate to take action if they refuse to come to the table and make a deal.”
According to White House sources, Trump’s plan includes leveraging trade restrictions, freezing Russian assets, and tightening existing sanctions on key sectors of the Russian economy, including energy and defense.
Despite Trump’s optimism, significant hurdles remain. Russia has consistently maintained its demands for Ukrainian neutrality and territorial concessions, while Ukraine has resisted any compromise that would cede control over occupied regions, such as Crimea and the Donbas.
Critics argue that Trump’s direct engagement with Putin could risk legitimizing Russia’s aggression and undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. However, supporters of the president’s approach contend that his business-oriented negotiation style and willingness to apply economic leverage could yield results where previous diplomatic efforts have stalled.
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