Trump Suggests Ukraine to Blame for War, Plans Meeting with Putin
United States President Donald Trump has said he will “probably” meet Russian President Vladimir Putin this month, while suggesting that Ukraine could have prevented the war.
Speaking at a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and implied that Kyiv could have avoided the conflict by negotiating with Moscow.
“You should have never started it. You could have made a deal. I could have made a deal for Ukraine,” Trump said, following a round of US-Russia negotiations in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
His remarks came after Ukraine expressed concerns over being excluded from the recent discussions aimed at ending the war. “I think I have the power to end this war, and I think it’s going very well,” Trump said, dismissing Kyiv’s frustrations about not being included in the talks.
During the meeting in Riyadh, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov agreed to begin working on a roadmap to end the war. Trump praised the negotiations, claiming that Russia was seeking a resolution. “They want to stop the savage barbarism,” he stated.
When asked about Russia’s calls for elections in Ukraine as part of a peace deal, Trump claimed without evidence that Zelenskyy’s approval rating was only 4 percent. However, a December poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that 52 percent of Ukrainians still trust their president, though his ratings have declined since February.
Trump suggested that Ukraine should hold elections, arguing that this was not a demand from Russia but rather a logical step supported by multiple countries.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy reiterated that any decision on ending the war must involve Ukraine. Speaking in Turkiye after a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, he warned against Washington and Moscow deciding terms without Kyiv’s input. “No decision can be made without Ukraine on how to end the war in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said.
Following the US-Russia talks, European leaders struggled to present a unified response. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that he would be open to sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine, while French President Emmanuel Macron said he might deploy forces to non-combat zones.
However, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed discussions about a post-war security force as “highly inappropriate” before an agreement is reached. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also ruled out sending troops.
France is expected to host further talks with European leaders to address security concerns after an emergency summit on Monday failed to produce a cohesive strategy.
At his news conference, Trump expressed support for European-led peacekeeping efforts but ruled out US troop involvement. “If they want to do that, that’s great. I’m all for it,” he said.
As diplomatic efforts continue, uncertainties remain over how the US will engage with Russia under Trump’s leadership. While he has expressed confidence in his ability to negotiate peace, his statements blaming Ukraine have raised concerns among Kyiv and European allies.
With additional talks planned in Europe, the direction of the negotiations—and the future of Ukraine’s sovereignty—remains unclear.
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