US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is keen to reach a settlement to end the war in Ukraine, while again accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of resisting compromise.
Trump's account of the Putin call
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after returning from a campaign rally in Tennessee, Trump recounted his October 9 telephone conversation with Putin. "I think that Russia would like to make a deal, and we've had it back and forth. But Russia would like to make a deal," he said. "President Putin would like to see a settlement strongly."
He added that the conflict could have been resolved many times but, in his words, Zelensky "does not want to make a deal." Trump also renewed his criticism of Zelensky for not holding presidential elections during the war, saying Ukraine would have secured a better deal had it negotiated two years earlier.
Zelensky's counter-offer
Zelensky responded on Sunday with a conditional offer: Kyiv would stop striking Russian oil refineries if Moscow ceased attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. "Any de-escalation steps must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees," he said in a post on X.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha pushed back on Trump's comments, writing that Zelensky was leading the country through a war for its independence, had the support of the Ukrainian people, and that statements from abroad only confirmed he was doing his job well.
The diesel row
The exchange unfolded against a dispute over Washington's move to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. Trump announced on Friday that Russia would supply diesel to the United States and global markets to ease fuel shortages linked to the continuing conflict in Iran, calling it good for the world at a low price.
Zelensky called the decision a "weak decision," warning it would let Russia earn more revenue to continue its campaign. European leaders also criticised the move, with the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying Europe would not ease its pressure on Russia.
Notably, the Kremlin's own account of the Putin-Trump call differed from Trump's. Foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin told Trump that Russia's objectives in Ukraine remained unchanged and that Moscow would decide later when negotiations could resume.
Sources: Hindustan Times (Reuters/AFP), Al Arabiya (AFP)
Trump's account of the Putin call
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after returning from a campaign rally in Tennessee, Trump recounted his October 9 telephone conversation with Putin. "I think that Russia would like to make a deal, and we've had it back and forth. But Russia would like to make a deal," he said. "President Putin would like to see a settlement strongly."
He added that the conflict could have been resolved many times but, in his words, Zelensky "does not want to make a deal." Trump also renewed his criticism of Zelensky for not holding presidential elections during the war, saying Ukraine would have secured a better deal had it negotiated two years earlier.
Zelensky's counter-offer
Zelensky responded on Sunday with a conditional offer: Kyiv would stop striking Russian oil refineries if Moscow ceased attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. "Any de-escalation steps must be reciprocal and backed by real guarantees," he said in a post on X.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha pushed back on Trump's comments, writing that Zelensky was leading the country through a war for its independence, had the support of the Ukrainian people, and that statements from abroad only confirmed he was doing his job well.
The diesel row
The exchange unfolded against a dispute over Washington's move to ease sanctions on Russian diesel. Trump announced on Friday that Russia would supply diesel to the United States and global markets to ease fuel shortages linked to the continuing conflict in Iran, calling it good for the world at a low price.
Zelensky called the decision a "weak decision," warning it would let Russia earn more revenue to continue its campaign. European leaders also criticised the move, with the EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas saying Europe would not ease its pressure on Russia.
Notably, the Kremlin's own account of the Putin-Trump call differed from Trump's. Foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said Putin told Trump that Russia's objectives in Ukraine remained unchanged and that Moscow would decide later when negotiations could resume.
Sources: Hindustan Times (Reuters/AFP), Al Arabiya (AFP)
