Trump says Ukraine-Russia talks are dragging on because Putin and Zelenskyy "hate each other"
US President Donald Trump has said that he had a "great" conversation with Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the beginning of the week and that Putin wants to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Meanwhile, he has stated that the talks are dragging on because Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "hate each other".
Source: European Pravda, citing Reuters
Details: Trump spoke to Putin by phone on Tuesday 8 September, shortly after US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner returned from a diplomatic visit to Moscow and Kyiv. The two officials, who are responsible for most of the main peace negotiations on behalf of the US, discussed possible proposals for ending the war.
"He [Putin] is wanting to make a deal, and if Zelenskyy is wanting to make a deal, that'd be very nice," Trump told journalists before boarding Air Force One for Dallas, where he was travelling to attend the Republican National Convention.
Despite the negotiation efforts and Trump's statements, intelligence officials in the US, Ukraine and across Europe continue to doubt that Putin is seriously interested in ending the war.
"The holdup is two people who hate each other," Trump told journalists, referring to Putin and Zelenskyy.
"I think more than anything else, it's two people that hate each other," he added.
Background:
- During a conversation with Putin, Trump reportedly said that it would be advisable to end the "conflict" with Ukraine as soon as possible in order to fully restore relations between the US and Russia.
- Trump previously said he is ready to meet Putin again, but only once Russia and Ukraine are able to reach a peace agreement.
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