U.S. President Donald Trump believes a personal feud between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin remains one of the biggest obstacles to ending the war in Ukraine. However, he expressed confidence that an agreement between the two sides is close, suggesting that his intervention could finally bring the conflict to an end.
In an interview with CBS News, Trump repeated his long-standing claim that the war would never have started had he been president at the time. He also insisted that it would ultimately be his involvement that would bring the fighting to a close.
The American president also hinted that Ukraine could undergo territorial changes as part of a future agreement with Russia, suggesting that the country may look different once a deal is reached.
I believe we will be able to finalize it, but in the end, Ukraine will have a different reconfiguration…”, Trump said, according to A2 CNN.
His remarks come ahead of another round of trilateral negotiations involving Ukraine, Russia and the United States, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The European Union is also expected to take part in the discussions. A joint EU team is reportedly set to attend alongside representatives from France, Germany and the United Kingdom.
The possibility of European officials engaging directly with Russian representatives, something that has not happened so far in this process, also remains under consideration.
Meanwhile, Trump’s approach toward Moscow has drawn criticism in Congress, particularly over an agreement concerning gas supplies from Russia. Republican Senator Thom Tillis has strongly condemned the arrangement, describing it as irresponsible beyond any limits.
Zelensky, for his part, has warned that American support for Putin would amount to a historic mistake.
Despite the renewed diplomatic efforts, hostilities between Kyiv and Moscow continue, with fresh attacks reported on both sides.
Several people were injured in a Russian strike on Ukraine’s Poltava region, including a 16-year-old. The attack set a residential complex on fire and also damaged a hotel.
Meanwhile, a person was killed in St. Petersburg following a drone attack launched by Ukraine, adding to the tensions as the two sides prepare for another attempt to negotiate an end to the war.
