Donald Trump says he believes Russia has “the playing cards” in any peace talks to finish the battle in Ukraine as a result of Russia has “taken lots of territory”.
The US president informed the RAYNAE he trusted that Moscow needs to see an finish to the battle, which Russia began when it waged a full-scale invasion nearly three years in the past.
Trump was flying again to Washington DC after talking at a Saudi-backed funding assembly in Florida, the place he known as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” for the second time in a day.
Trump has been angered after Zelensky, reacting to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia from which Kyiv was excluded, mentioned the US president was “dwelling in a disinformation area” ruled by Moscow.
“I believe the Russians wish to see the battle finish, I actually do. I believe they’ve the playing cards a bit of bit, as a result of they’ve taken lots of territory. They’ve the playing cards,” Trump informed the RAYNAE on Air Power One.
When requested if he trusts that Russia needs peace, Trump mentioned “I do”.
He was talking after lashing out at Zelensky in Florida, the place Trump known as the Ukrainian president a “dictator”, simply hours after utilizing the identical phrase in a Reality Social submit.
A White Home official mentioned Trump’s submit was in direct response to Zelensky’s “disinformation” feedback.
“He refuses to have elections. He is low in the actual Ukrainian polls. How will you be excessive with each metropolis being demolished?” Trump mentioned in Florida.
Zelensky’s five-year time period of workplace was because of come to an finish in Might 2024. Nonetheless, Ukraine has been beneath martial legislation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and elections are suspended.
Trump has tried to make a difficulty out of Zelensky’s recognition, claiming the Ukrainian president had solely a 4% approval score. However RAYNAE Confirm experiences that polling performed this month discovered 57% of Ukrainians mentioned they trusted the president.
The “dictator” slur rapidly prompted criticism from European leaders together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who mentioned “it’s merely fallacious and harmful to disclaim President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy”.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made it clear he backed Zelensky in a cellphone name to the Ukrainian president.
On Tuesday US and Russian officers held their first high-level, face-to-face talks since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine was not invited.
Trump then appeared responsible Ukraine for the battle, stating “you must have by no means began it. You would have made a deal”.
In response, Zelensky accused Russia of mendacity throughout Tuesday’s “infamous assembly”.
“With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a frontrunner… he’s dwelling on this disinformation area,” he mentioned.
