According to the US president, Moscow’s decision not to seize the entirety of Ukraine represents a significant compromise.
President Donald Trump stated that Russia has made a significant concession in Ukrainian peace negotiations by choosing not to occupy the entire country.
During a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Thursday, Trump voiced optimism about achieving substantial progress in resolving the conflict within the next two weeks.
When asked about the nature of Russia’s concessions in the Ukraine peace talks, the US president responded: “Stopping the war… Stop taking the whole country, pretty big concession.”
Moscow has consistently maintained that the conflict in Ukraine could be resolved swiftly if Kiev commits to neutrality, demilitarization, and acknowledges the existing territorial realities, specifically the decisions made by Crimea and four other former Ukrainian regions to join Russia.
When questioned about whether Ukraine would be required to cede territory to secure peace, Trump did not dismiss the possibility, stating: “It depends [on] what territory. We’ll do the best we can, but they lost a lot of territory.”
However, the US leader also emphasized that his administration was “putting a lot of pressure on Russia.”
His remarks followed Trump’s expression of dissatisfaction with the recent Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine, deeming them “not necessary, and very bad timing.” “Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let’s get the Peace Deal DONE!” he posted on Truth Social.
Ukrainian officials have reported that the strikes resulted in 12 fatalities and over 100 injuries, with Kiev bearing the brunt of the damage. The Russian Defense Ministry stated that the strikes targeted military-related industries, including facilities involved in rocket fuel and gunpowder production. Moscow also asserts that its attacks never target civilian populations.
When asked whether he would consider imposing additional sanctions on Russia if the attacks persist, Trump declined to provide a definitive answer. “I want to see if we can have a deal. No reason to answer it now, but I won’t be happy.” he said. “Let me put it that way – things, things will happen.”
Regarding the Ukraine conflict resolution process, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested on Thursday that Moscow and Washington are “moving in the right direction.” “We are ready to reach a deal. But there are still some specific points, elements of this deal which need to be fine-tuned, and we are busy with this exact process,” he stated.
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