Trump Says Russia Wants Deal as Tensions With Kyiv Grow
President Donald Trump says Vladimir Putin strongly wants a settlement in Ukraine while blaming Volodymyr Zelenskyy for resisting a deal amid growing tensions over Russian diesel.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine, while accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of resisting a deal as tensions between Washington and Kyiv deepen.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said Putin had expressed a strong desire for a settlement during a phone conversation between the two leaders on Friday.
"Russia would like to make a deal," Trump said, before adding that "for whatever reason, Zelensky does not want to make a deal."
Trump said Putin "would like to see a settlement, strongly," presenting that as the message he received directly from the Russian president.
The remarks represented Trump's account of Putin's position and came amid continuing disagreement over how the more than four-year war should be brought to an end.
Trump also renewed criticism of Zelenskyy over Ukraine's political leadership, pointing to the absence of a presidential election since Russia's 2022 invasion.
"I think he should have an election and he could have settled this thing many times," Trump said.
His comments followed earlier remarks in which he called for Ukraine to choose a new president capable of reaching an agreement with Moscow.
The latest exchange also comes amid a widening dispute between Trump and Zelenskyy over Washington's decision to ease restrictions on Russian diesel.
Trump announced an agreement with Moscow under which Russia would supply substantial quantities of diesel to the United States and international markets.
He has presented the arrangement as a response to global fuel shortages and higher energy prices.
Zelenskyy has strongly criticized the decision, describing it as a "weak decision" and arguing that allowing Russia to generate additional energy revenue could help Moscow finance its military campaign.
Trump, meanwhile, accused the Ukrainian leader of ignoring his calls to stop Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
He argued that strikes on Russian refining infrastructure risk worsening fuel shortages already aggravated by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
The disagreement over diesel has added a new economic dimension to already strained relations between Washington and Kyiv.
Ukraine argues that maintaining economic pressure on Moscow is essential to limiting Russia's ability to finance the war, while Trump has emphasized both securing lower fuel prices and pursuing a negotiated settlement.
The diplomatic confrontation comes as fighting continues inside Ukraine.
Earlier Kurdistan24 reporting said Russian aerial strikes killed at least 20 people, including three children, in the Zaporizhzhia region on Saturday, while additional attacks injured civilians in Kyiv.
Read More: Trump Calls for New Ukrainian President, Blames Zelenskyy for Failure to End War
For Trump, however, the central argument remains that a political agreement is possible.
His latest remarks place responsibility for the continued deadlock largely on Zelenskyy, while portraying Putin as willing to reach a settlement.
Kyiv, by contrast, has argued that Russia's continuing military attacks demonstrate that Moscow remains committed to war and that reducing economic pressure risks strengthening its ability to continue fighting.