Trump Claims Russia Holds Advantage in Ukraine Peace Talks

Trump's comments come amid escalating tensions with Ukraine's President Zelensky, whom he labeled a "dictator," suggesting a widening divide as international negotiations unfold.

Former President Donald Trump shared his controversial perspective on the ongoing war in Ukraine during a flight back to Washington, D.C., following a Saudi-backed investment meeting in Florida. In a BBC interview, Trump asserted that Russia "have the cards" in peace negotiations due to their significant territorial acquisitions over the course of the conflict. He expressed optimism that Moscow desires an end to the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

Trump's remarks follow a tense exchange with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he called a "dictator" twice in a single day. This name-calling was sparked by Zelensky’s critique of U.S.-Russia discussions held in Saudi Arabia from which Ukraine was notably absent. The Ukrainian president accused Trump of being "in a disinformation space” influenced by Moscow following these comments.

"I think the Russians want to see the war end, I really do," Trump stated, underscoring his belief that Russia's territorial gains give them leverage in any possible negotiations. He was asked directly about his trust in Russia's intentions, responding affirmatively, "I do."

The former president's comments came after he expressed his frustrations with Zelensky in Florida, emphasizing the suspension of elections in Ukraine due to martial law, which came about following the war’s escalation. He alleged that Zelensky’s popularity was low and questioned how he could maintain high approval ratings amid widespread destruction in Ukrainian cities. Trump’s claims asserted that Zelensky showed a mere 4% approval rating, a point contested by BBC investigative reporting which indicates that 57% of Ukrainians continue to trust their president.

The backlash against Trump’s recent comments included strong criticism from European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who dismissed Trump’s claims about Zelensky’s legitimacy as "simply wrong and dangerous.”

The tensions heightened during a recent meeting on Tuesday between U.S. and Russian officials, marking their first discussions since the onset of the invasion, wherein Ukraine was not represented. Trump appeared to shift blame onto Ukraine entirely for the persistence of the conflict, suggesting they "should have never started it" and could have negotiated a deal instead.

Responding to Trump’s remarks, Zelensky rebuffed the notion of Russia's good faith in negotiations, stating, "With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a leader... he is living in this disinformation space," as he sought to reaffirm Ukraine's stance against Russian aggression.