President Trump says he’s awaiting evidence of Ukraine’s willingness to negotiate a ceasefire.
According to President Donald Trump, Ukraine has not sufficiently demonstrated a desire for peace with Russia. This statement comes ahead of planned US-Ukraine discussions in Saudi Arabia.
On Sunday, while aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked if he would reinstate military aid if Ukraine agreed to a partnership concerning the development of its critical mineral deposits.
“I think they will sign the minerals deal. But I want them to want peace. Right now, they haven’t shown it to the extent that they should,” Trump stated.
“But I think they will be. I think it’s going to be evident over the next two or three days. I think, eventually, we’ll have peace,” the president added.
Trump reiterated that his primary goal is to facilitate a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to prevent further loss of “human lives”. He expressed optimism for a “good result” from the upcoming US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia.
Last week, the US halted all arms shipments to Kiev and limited intelligence sharing, hoping to encourage Ukraine to be more open to his mediation efforts. Trump stated that he found Ukraine “more difficult” to negotiate with than Russia, especially after Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s recent visit to the White House.
The minerals deal was initially scheduled for signing on February 28, but the ceremony was postponed following a public disagreement between Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Trump later accused Zelensky of being disrespectful and ungrateful for the US support provided since 2022. Zelensky called the meeting “regrettable” and voiced his wish to repair relations.
Russia has asserted that lasting peace is contingent on addressing the underlying causes of the conflict, including NATO’s eastward expansion. Moscow has demanded that Ukraine abandon its aspirations to join NATO and adopt a neutral status with a limited military. Additionally, Russia has demanded that Ukraine relinquish its claim to Crimea and four other regions that have voted to join Russia since 2014.
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