“Only he and Putin could end the war.” — Donald Trump
DAILY MAIL
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders that Ukraine and Russia will have to negotiate peace on their own, following a two-hour call with Vladimir Putin.
According to The New York Times, Trump described the prospects for U.S.-Russia ties as “impressive,” and indicated he would not support further U.S.-led sanctions.
“Only he and Putin could end the war,” Trump said earlier, reinforcing growing concern in Europe that the U.S. is stepping back from its role.
Trump had previously warned, “If the ceasefire is not respected, the US and its partners will impose further sanctions.” But that rhetoric has reportedly cooled.
EU officials told The Times they no longer expect the U.S. to pressure Moscow financially. While the EU and UK pushed forward with new sanctions, Trump remained silent.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed no new peace talks are scheduled, despite a recent Istanbul prisoner swap agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.