President Donald J. Trump has identified Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the primary obstacle to a potential peace deal that could end the nearly four-year war between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, Trump stated: “I think he’s ready to make a deal,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin, “but I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal.”
The conflict began in 2022 with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and has claimed an estimated 1.4 million lives on both sides. Trump noted that Zelensky appears to be having difficulty accepting the concessions necessary for peace, despite recent communications indicating openness to U.S.-led discussions on security guarantees, economic agreements, and political terms.
“Zelensky is being as productive as possible,” Trump said, but emphasized that Zelensky remains hesitant to commit to a peace deal. The president confirmed his willingness to meet with Zelensky at the World Economic Forum in Davos later this month to advance negotiations.
