Washington, D.C. – President Donald Trump on Friday said he finds it “easier” to deal with Russia than Ukraine in efforts to end the war, suggesting that Kyiv lacks leverage and warning that the U.S. could withdraw its support if a settlement isn’t reached.
In a televised White House press conference, Trump reaffirmed his trust in Vladimir Putin, despite imposing new sanctions on Russia earlier in the day. “I believe him,” he said, adding that Ukraine does not ‘have the cards’ in negotiations.
Trump has paused U.S. military and intelligence aid to Ukraine in an apparent bid to pressure President Volodymyr Zelensky into a ceasefire. He also defended Russia’s overnight bombing campaign, saying, “I actually think he’s doing what anybody in that position would do.”
While claiming that Putin wants to “end the war”, Trump suggested that Ukraine’s refusal to settle could cost them U.S. backing. “If they don’t want to settle, we’re out of there because we want them to settle. I’m doing it to stop death,” he said.
The comments mark a significant shift in U.S. rhetoric on the war, raising concerns about the future of American support for Ukraine’s resistance against Russia’s invasion.
