During a recent speech in New Jersey, former President Donald Trump expressed his long-standing relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he also condemned Putin’s actions in Ukraine. Trump said, "I’ve known him a long time, always gotten along with him, but he’s sending rockets into cities and killing people, and I don’t like it at all."
Trump indicated that he is considering increasing U.S. sanctions against Russia, a move he has hinted at in the past. He shared his thoughts on Truth Social, stating, "I’ve always said that he wants all of Ukraine, not just a piece of it, and maybe that’s proving to be right, but if he does, it will lead to the downfall of Russia!"
However, Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that Zelensky’s comments are unhelpful. He remarked, "Everything out of his mouth causes problems, I don’t like it, and it better stop."
As the U.S. continues to engage in diplomatic efforts, the Biden administration has stated it will either push for peace talks or step back if no progress is made. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed gratitude to Trump for his role in facilitating negotiations.
Recently, Trump and Putin had a two-hour phone call to discuss a proposed ceasefire deal. Trump described the conversation as positive, believing it would lead to immediate negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, while Putin has only committed to working on a "memorandum" for potential future peace, which Kyiv and its allies view as a delay tactic.
The last direct talks between Ukraine and Russia took place on May 16 in Istanbul, Turkey. Despite a recent prisoner swap, little progress has been made towards halting the fighting. Currently, Russia controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.