Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed that dealing with Ukraine has proven “more difficult” than negotiating with Russia in his efforts to mediate peace between the two countries. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump stated that the U.S. has been “doing very well with Russia” and suggested it might be easier to engage with Moscow than Kyiv.
Earlier, Trump had mentioned that he was “strongly considering” imposing large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine is reached. This came after a recent pause in U.S. military aid to Ukraine and a temporary suspension of Ukrainian access to certain U.S. satellite imagery, according to space technology company Maxar.
Trump’s remarks come a week after a tense exchange between him and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which Trump criticized Zelensky for being “disrespectful” to the U.S. This confrontation was followed by Trump halting all military and intelligence-sharing support with Ukraine.
The timing of Trump’s statements aligns with a large-scale missile and drone strike by Russia on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Trump’s potential sanction threats against Russia were in response to these continued attacks, but he also remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin was acting in a way any leader would in such circumstances.
Despite the tensions, Trump expressed his belief that Putin wants to end the war, whereas he remained uncertain whether Ukraine was willing to settle. The remarks come at a time when the U.S. is seeking a deal with Zelensky that would give them significant control over Ukraine’s mineral resources and encourage a swift truce with Moscow.
In response, Zelensky has pushed for strong security guarantees as part of any agreement. Trump has stated that discussions over security guarantees could be addressed later and would be the “easy part” of negotiations.
Meanwhile, the U.S. has temporarily suspended Ukraine’s access to high-quality satellite imagery, which plays a crucial role in military intelligence during the conflict. Maxar confirmed that this decision followed the U.S. administration’s directive.
In the coming days, senior U.S. officials are set to meet with Zelensky’s team in Saudi Arabia as pressure builds for Ukraine to agree to Trump’s terms. Zelensky has said he is “ready for peace as soon as possible” and hopes to discuss “concrete steps” to achieve it. He also emphasized that Russia must be forced into peace.
The situation remains tense, with Ukraine continuing to battle Russian forces. Local authorities in the Donetsk region reported five fatalities on Friday due to Russian attacks. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict continue as both sides look for a path toward peace.
