Jordan Daily – U.S. President Donald Trump said he expected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be “much easier to deal with” than Russian President Vladimir Putin but warned Kyiv risks losing the war without a peace agreement.
“I think Russia is ready… I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelensky,” Trump told reporters Wednesday, expressing frustration over stalled talks. “So far it’s been harder,” he added. “That’s okay, it’s alright… we’ll have a deal with both.”
Zelensky has rejected key elements of the proposed U.S. peace framework, including recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. The White House criticized him for disclosing sensitive details, while Trump cautioned on Truth Social that Ukraine’s position is weakening. “He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country,” he wrote.
Trump declined to confirm whether he would meet Zelensky during Pope Francis’ upcoming funeral, saying, “I don’t know if he is going to the funeral or not… I just hope he gets this thing solved.”
When asked about a possible meeting with Putin in Saudi Arabia next month, Trump replied it was “possible, but most likely not… I think we’ll meet with him shortly thereafter.”
The U.S. is also negotiating a minerals extraction deal with Kyiv to recoup aid costs, but Trump’s team is frustrated by delays in both peace and economic talks.
