US President Donald Trump on Friday gave himself a two-week deadline to make what he called an “important” decision on peace efforts aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. He said the choice could range from imposing massive sanctions on Russia to “doing nothing.”
Earlier this week, Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders at the White House. Zelensky indicated he was open to a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a potential settlement.
Last week, Trump also held talks with Putin in Alaska, describing the meeting with the Russian leader as productive. Following those discussions, Trump said he began working to arrange a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky, which could later be followed by a trilateral session involving himself.
Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, Trump said he was “not happy” about a Russian strike the previous day that hit a US-owned factory in Ukraine. “I’m not happy about anything having to do with that war,” he added.
The President explained that his next move depends on whether Putin and Zelensky actually agree to meet. “I think I’ll know. I think I’ll know the attitude of Russia, and, frankly, of Ukraine. It takes two,” Trump said when asked what he planned to do once the two-week assessment period ends.
“Then I’m going to make a decision as to what we do, and it’s going to be a very important decision,” he continued. “That’s whether or not it’s massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both. Or do we do nothing and say it’s your fight.”
Trump also displayed a photo of himself with Putin from their Alaska summit, noting that the Russian leader had sent it to him.
Meanwhile, Russia on Friday dismissed the idea of an immediate meeting with Zelensky, despite Trump’s earlier comments that he was working to arrange one.
Trump compared efforts to bring the two leaders together to mixing “oil and vinegar.” “We’re going to see if Putin and Zelensky will be working together,” he told reporters. “You know, it’s like oil and vinegar, a little bit. They don’t get along too well, for obvious reasons.”
