The United States has already had “very serious” dialogue with Russia over ending its confrontation in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday, added that talks with Putin could yield “significant” action soon.
“We will be speaking, and I think we will perhaps do something that’ll be significant,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He said about the Ukraine conflict, “It’s got to stop, so whatever I can do to stop it.” He further added, “And we are having discussions.”
Trump declined to comment on whether he had already talked with Putin on the issue. He also refused to comment on the role of China in enabling a dialogue with Putin.
In the election campaign in November, Trump reiterated how quickly he could end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Trump claimed earlier this month that a meeting with Putin was being arranged, though the Kremlin said no preparations are happening.
The Russian President said he is open to meeting with Trump to “talk calmly” about issues including the war on Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump stopped nearly all U.S. foreign financial aid, including to Ukraine, and left humanitarian organisations jumbled to find assistance for programs ranging from demining and veteran rehabilitation to maintaining hospitals and restoring bombed power plants.
Current military transfers are omitted, having been secured under the Biden administration. However, future supplies are not certain, with Trump committed to end the war swiftly and blaming his predecessor for giving Kyiv nearly €100 billion in money and materiel.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s forces is battling. A shortage of infantry, artillery, and air defense means units are being pressed to give ground, as Russian forces bulldoze their way in the eastern Donbas region.
Russia recently launched a series of missiles and drones against Ukraine, murdered eight people and damaged dozens of residential buildings as well as energy infrastructure across the country, Ukrainian officials said.
“This night, Russia released an attack against our cities, using several weapons: missiles, strike drones, aerial bombs. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post, added that destruction was caused in six regions. “Another wave of terrorist crime,” he said.
Zelenskyy said the Russian missiles ruined the center of Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, seriously historic buildings and injuring seven people. He said Norwegian diplomats were among those “who were in the epicenter of the strike” in Odesa.
Calling the attack “a deliberate strike,” Zelenskyy reiterated his calls for Kyiv’s allies to provide assistance to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses.
