Trump says it’s Putin’s fault Ukraine war isn’t over – POLITICO

The comments explicitly blame the ongoing war on Moscow, as Russian energy revenues fund its war chest, and are the latest indication of Trump’s evolving perspective on the conflict and warming relations with the president. Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

This comes after Trump told reporters on Tuesday that “Zelenskyy told me he wants to make a deal.” But, he added in the Oval Office on the first day of his second presidency, “I don’t know if Putin will do it… He might not.” I think he should make a deal. I think he is destroying Russia by not making a deal. ” a reference to the country’s failing economy and inflation.

Zelensky, for his part, has repeatedly contacted the Trump administration to argue that it is Moscow, not kyiv, that is standing in the way of a peace deal — a message that Trump has heard clearly.

In his own speech in Davos on Tuesday, Zelensky also sought to appeal to Trump by repeating some of his arguments about the need for Europe to “step up” and be responsible for its own security, and supported the target of 5% of NATO spending.

Trump also said he would guarantee the security of Europe’s liquefied natural gas supply. “Yes, I would. I’ll make sure you get it. If we make a deal, we make a deal. You’ll get it.”

The United States is already the European Union’s second-largest gas partner and largest LNG supplier, after Russia cut off supplies following its large-scale invasion of Ukraine. But Trump has little power to boost exports in the short term, and possible trade frictions between the United States and the EU could affect gas supplies.