Washington: US President Donald Trump stated that Russia will need to make “concessions” in negotiations regarding Ukraine, but emphasized that Ukraine should not expect to join NATO. Speaking to reporters before his cabinet meeting, Trump expressed that the US would “try very hard” to negotiate a deal that allows Ukraine to reclaim as much territory as possible.
When asked if Russia holding onto occupied territories would send a troubling message, Trump replied, “You try and take it away, right? We’ll do our best to facilitate a favorable deal for both sides, particularly for Ukraine.” However, he did not clarify what specific concessions he anticipated from either Russia or Ukraine. He reiterated that NATO membership is off the table for Ukraine and blamed the alliance for the outbreak of the war in 2022.
Regarding the concessions, Trump stated, “I don’t want to disclose that right now. But NATO? Forget about it. I believe that was likely the root cause of the conflict.” He described Russian President Vladimir Putin as “very smart and cunning,” suggesting that if he had not been elected, Putin would have continued his aggression in Ukraine. Trump remarked, “I think he wanted the whole thing,” and noted that without US military support, the war would have ended quickly in favor of Russia.
Trump also announced that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would visit the US on Friday to sign a “very big agreement” related to rare earth materials and other topics. He praised his team for their efforts in preparing this agreement. Zelenskyy’s visit follows a trip to Kyiv by US Special Presidential Envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, where they discussed battlefield updates, prisoner exchanges, and security assurances.
Zelenskyy expressed Ukraine’s commitment to peace and readiness for a strong investment and security agreement with the US. In a post on X, he highlighted the productive meeting with Kellogg and expressed gratitude for US support. He emphasized the importance of American strength and reiterated Ukraine’s desire for a lasting peace to prevent future conflicts with Russia. Zelenskyy affirmed that his team is ready to work diligently towards achieving effective results in US-Ukrainian relations, which he believes benefit the entire world.