“Putin wants a deal more than Zelensky does” – Trump steps up against Ukrainian president
Quick Look
- US President Donald Trump commented on the war in Ukraine and emphasized that he would not hold Russia more accountable, even though there were violations of the energy ceasefire he announced.
- He sees Ukraine under pressure and believes that Putin is more interested in a deal than Zelensky.
- At the same time, he indirectly criticized Zelensky and defended the controversial diesel agreement with Russia against cross-party criticism, while Ukrainian officials emphasized that they would only stop attacks on energy facilities if Russia also respected this.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Ukraine war has been going on since 2022. Trump has positioned himself as a mediator since returning to the White House, while also criticizing Ukraine and promoting economic deals with Russia, including a controversial diesel deal criticized by US senators as illegal because Congress banned imports of Russian energy in 2022.
Audio player is loading
Click here to have WELT articles preferred in Google searches.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The USA will implement the diesel agreement with Russia despite critical voices in Congress.
Possible · Within weeks
Ukraine will continue to wait for concrete steps from the US before making further concessions.
Likely · Within days
Russia will increase its diesel exports in the coming months to take advantage of the agreement.
Possible · Within months
Open Questions
- Will the diesel agreement be implemented despite congressional restrictions?
- How will Ukraine respond to Trump's pressure to remove Zelensky?
- What concrete steps is the USA planning to take to persuade Russia to comply with the ceasefire?
- How will the attack on the Kharkiv power plant affect Ukraine's energy supply?
