President Donald Trump said Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more willing than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to negotiate an agreement ending the war in Ukraine, amid conflicting accounts over violations of a recently announced energy ceasefire.
“I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a campaign rally in Ohio.
His remarks followed accusations by Zelensky that Russian forces had continued striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite the ceasefire announced by Trump over the weekend.
Trump said both sides had violated the arrangement but maintained that an agreement remained possible.
Trump Calls for Negotiations
“All I know is that Zelensky and Putin have to get together and end that ridiculous war,” Trump said.
He claimed that 32,000 people had been killed during the current month, without providing supporting figures. Referring to the energy ceasefire, Trump said both countries had agreed following his intervention.
“They agreed because I said they agreed, and that thing has to get settled,” he said.
“I think they want to make a deal, but they don’t know how. But we’re going to get them to make a deal,” Trump added.
Dispute Over Energy Ceasefire
Zelensky accused Russia of violating the ceasefire by continuing attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities, including infrastructure in Kharkiv. Trump, however, said violations had occurred on both sides and did not assign responsibility exclusively to Moscow.
The dispute follows disagreements between Washington and Kyiv over Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and Trump’s announcement of an agreement allowing Russian diesel exports to the United States.
Trump had also criticized Zelensky in recent days, suggesting that Ukraine should have a new president following the Ukrainian leader’s objections to the diesel agreement.
Russian attacks continued Monday in Kharkiv, where a drone strike on a residential area injured at least 12 people, including a child, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.
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