Donald Trump says he believes Russia “have the playing cards” in any peace talks to finish the struggle in Ukraine as a result of they’ve “taken numerous territory”.
The US president informed the BBC he trusted that Moscow desires to see an finish to the struggle, which Russia began when it waged a full-scale invasion nearly three years in the past.
Trump was flying again to Washington DC after talking at a Saudi-backed funding assembly in Florida, the place he known as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” for the second time in a day.
Trump has been angered after Zelensky, reacting to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia from which Kyiv was excluded, stated the US president was “dwelling in a disinformation area” ruled by Moscow.
“I feel the Russians wish to see the struggle finish, I actually do. I feel they’ve the playing cards a bit of bit, as a result of they’ve taken numerous territory. They’ve the playing cards,” Trump informed the BBC on Air Pressure One.
When requested if he trusts that Russia desires peace, Trump stated “I do”.
He was talking after lashing out at Zelensky in Florida, the place Trump known as the Ukrainian president a “dictator”, simply hours after utilizing the identical phrase in a Reality Social publish.
A White Home official stated Trump’s publish was in direct response to Zelensky’s “disinformation” feedback.
“He refuses to have elections. He is low in the true Ukrainian polls. How are you going to be excessive with each metropolis being demolished?” Trump stated in Florida.
Zelensky’s five-year time period of workplace was because of come to an finish in Might 2024. Nevertheless, Ukraine has been beneath martial legislation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and elections are suspended.
Trump has tried to make a problem out of Zelensky’s recognition, claiming the Ukrainian president had solely a 4% approval ranking. However BBC Confirm reviews that polling performed this month discovered 57% of Ukrainians stated they trusted the president.
The “dictator” slur shortly prompted criticism from European leaders together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who stated “it’s merely unsuitable and harmful to disclaim President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy”.
On Tuesday US and Russian officers held their first high-level, face-to-face talks since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine was not invited.
Trump then appeared guilty Ukraine for the struggle, stating “it is best to have by no means began it. You may have made a deal”.
In response, Zelensky accused Russia of mendacity throughout Tuesday’s “infamous assembly”.
“With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a pacesetter… he’s dwelling on this disinformation area,” he stated.
