 "Trump says negotiating ceasefire with Russia easier as Putin holds 'all the cards'")
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he believes negotiating with Moscow will be easier than with Kyiv in reaching a final settlement to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asserting that Russian President Vladimir Putin holds “all the cards.”
Trump said that “anyone” in Putin’s position would be attacking Ukraine given the current battlefield dynamics.
While expressing his desire to assist Ukraine, he emphasised that Kyiv needs to “get on the ball” and work towards a peace agreement.
“I think we’re doing very well with Russia, but right now they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine. And Ukraine, I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine, and they don’t have the cards,” CNN quoted Trump as saying in the Oval Office.
“In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia, which is surprising, because they have all the cards,” he went on.
Earlier on Friday, Trump threatened new sanctions on Russia as it began extensive strikes across Ukraine.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Reuters quoted Trump as saying.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!” he added.
However, in the Oval Office, he maintained a conciliatory tone toward Putin.
“I actually think he’s doing what anybody else would do,” CNN quoted Trump as saying.
“I think he wants to get it stopped and settled,” he added.
“He’s been hitting him. And I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now. He wants to get it ended,” Trump continued.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsRussian forces have almost surrounded thousands of Ukrainian troops who stormed into Russia’s Kursk region last summer in a shock incursion which Kyiv had hoped to use as leverage over Moscow in any peace talks.
Ukraine’s situation in Kursk has deteriorated sharply in the last three days, open source maps show. The Russian counteroffensive has nearly cut the Ukrainian force in two and separated the main group from its principal supply lines.
Russian forces also damaged energy and gas infrastructure inside Ukraine overnight in their first major missile attack since the U.S. paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
With inputs from agencies
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