Trump says Russia ‘have the playing cards’ in peace negotiations

Donald Trump says he believes Russia “have the playing cards” in any peace talks to finish the conflict in Ukraine as a result of they’ve “taken a whole lot of territory”.

The US president instructed the BBC he trusted that Moscow needs to see an finish to the conflict, which Russia began when it waged a full-scale invasion virtually three years in the past.

Trump was flying again to Washington DC after talking at a Saudi-backed funding assembly in Florida, the place he known as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “dictator” for the second time in a day.

Trump has been angered after Zelensky, reacting to US-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia from which Kyiv was excluded, mentioned the US president was “residing in a disinformation area” ruled by Moscow.

“I feel the Russians wish to see the conflict finish, I actually do. I feel they’ve the playing cards a bit of bit, as a result of they’ve taken a whole lot of territory. They’ve the playing cards,” Trump instructed the BBC on Air Power One.

When requested if he trusts that Russia needs peace, Trump mentioned “I do”.

He was talking after lashing out at Zelensky in Florida, the place Trump known as the Ukrainian president a “dictator”, simply hours after utilizing the identical phrase in a Reality Social publish.

A White Home official mentioned Trump’s publish was in direct response to Zelensky’s “disinformation” feedback.

“He refuses to have elections. He is low in the actual Ukrainian polls. How will you be excessive with each metropolis being demolished?” Trump mentioned in Florida.

Zelensky’s five-year time period of workplace was because of come to an finish in Might 2024. Nevertheless, Ukraine has been underneath martial regulation since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022 and elections are suspended.

Trump has tried to make a problem out of Zelensky’s reputation, claiming the Ukrainian president had solely a 4% approval score. However BBC Confirm studies that polling performed this month discovered 57% of Ukrainians mentioned they trusted the president.

The “dictator” slur rapidly prompted criticism from European leaders together with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who mentioned “it’s merely mistaken and harmful to disclaim President Zelensky his democratic legitimacy”.

On Tuesday US and Russian officers held their first high-level, face-to-face talks since Russia’s full-scale invasion. Ukraine was not invited.

Trump then appeared accountable Ukraine for the conflict, stating “you need to have by no means began it. You possibly can have made a deal”.

In response, Zelensky accused Russia of mendacity throughout Tuesday’s “infamous assembly”.

“With all due respect to President Donald Trump as a pacesetter… he’s residing on this disinformation area,” he mentioned.