Trump Questions Putin’s Desire For Peace Deal With Ukraine

On Saturday, President Donald Trump acknowledged that President Vladimir Putin might be “tapping me along” following another barrage of missile attacks in Ukraine, signaling that his administration could be nearing the end of efforts to broker a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump’s irritation with Putin came after he condemned the recent missile strikes on Kyiv. However, his anger soon pivoted toward Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom Trump scolded for delaying the signing of a critical mineral deal, according to the Washington Times.

“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days,” Trump posted on his Truth Social account. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!”

These remarks came after Trump’s return from Rome, where he attended Pope Francis’s funeral and met face-to-face with Zelenskyy for the first time since their contentious Oval Office encounter in February.

While the White House continues to push for a ceasefire, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in Paris last week that the U.S. might “move on” if substantial peace progress isn’t made soon, the Times noted.

Following their meeting, Zelenskyy shared on X that he and Trump “discussed a lot one-on-one” at the Vatican.

“Hoping for results on everything we covered,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results. Thank you [President Trump].”

Earlier, Trump had faulted Zelenskyy for insisting that Crimea — which Russia seized in 2014 — must be returned as part of any peace settlement, a demand Trump has dismissed as unrealistic.

Trump has repeatedly blamed former President Barack Obama for “making it possible” for Russia to annex Crimea without “a shot even being fired,” and referred to the ongoing conflict as “Sleepy Joe Biden’s War, not mine.”

“It was a loser from day one, and should have never happened, and wouldn’t have happened if I were President at the time,” Trump said. “I’m just trying to clean up the mess that was left to me by Obama and Biden, and what a mess it is.”

Trump continued his criticism on Wednesday, accusing Zelenskyy of obstructing the peace process with Russia.

“Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, ‘Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.’ This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? The area also houses, for many years before ‘the Obama handover,’ major Russian submarine bases,” Trump continued. “It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about!”