Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “manipulate” U.S. President Donald Trump by saying he would engage in talks to end the war, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Newsweek has contacted the White House and the Kremlin for comment by email.
Why It Matters
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump repeatedly pledged to swiftly end the yearslong Russia-Ukraine war. On Monday, the president returned to office, and it remains to be seen whether he will change the calculus in the conflict.
Kyiv believes that Putin will not budge on his desire for the full capitulation of Ukraine.
What To Know
On Friday, Putin told state media that Russia had always been ready for talks regarding the war and had never refused contact with the U.S. administration.
In his evening address later that day, Zelensky said Putin wanted to manipulate Trump’s wish to achieve peace and that the ploy would not succeed.
Putin referred to a decree Zelensky signed in September 2022 that declared negotiations with Moscow impossible after Russia said it had annexed four Ukrainian regions, which it still does not fully control.
Putin said the decree showed Ukraine was not interested in peace negotiations and would nullify any agreement made unless it was revoked.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank in Washington, D.C., Putin’s claim was false, and his remarks were an attempt to obfuscate his unwillingness to participate in good-faith negotiations by blaming Ukraine for defending itself.
Zelensky has consistently signaled that he would be willing to negotiate with Russia, even outlining conditions for such talks—such as preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, developing Ukraine’s defense industrial base, and securing security guarantees from allies.
ISW said Putin’s comments signaled that he was not interested in peace short of his full demands, which would entail Ukraine’s complete capitulation.
What People Are Saying
Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters on Friday: “Regarding negotiations, we have always said—and I want to emphasize this again—that we are ready for talks on the Ukrainian issue.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Friday: “[Putin] wants to manipulate the desire of the President of the United States of America to achieve peace. I am confident that no Russian manipulations will succeed anymore.”
Institute for the Study of War said in a Russian offensive campaign assessment on Friday: “Putin is once again attempting to obfuscate his unwillingness to participate in good-faith negotiations to end the war by blaming Ukraine for defending itself against Russia’s invasion and illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory.”
What Happens Next
As the debate over ongoing Western military support for Kyiv continues, retired Lieutenant General Keith Kellogg, Trump’s peace envoy for Ukraine and Russia, told Fox News on Friday that tougher oil sanctions could force Putin to the negotiating table.
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