Putin says he’s open to peace talks with Trump, Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said that he was open to talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a post by Russia’s foreign ministry. Putin’s comments came just days after Trump urged Russia to make a deal for peace in Ukraine, or risk facing new taxes, tariffs, and sanctions from the United States. The Russian president enjoyed a strictly professional, yet trust-based relationship with Trump, Putin said. Russia is always willing to speak with the United States, Putin said. He blamed former President Joe Biden and his staff for the fact that no discussions had taken place between the White House and the Kremlin since the start of the war.

What did Putin say about the possibility of peace? Ukraine is currently content to keep fighting and receiving billions of dollars in military support from the West, Putin said. The Russian president said the Western countries supporting Kyiv should force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to come to the table for peace talks.

Did he mention any roadblocks on the path to peace? Currently, an executive order signed by Zelenskyy remains in effect in Ukraine banning peace talks, Putin said. That order must be rescinded before talks can begin, the Russian president said. If that order is not rescinded, all talks between Kyiv and Moscow would be illegitimate, Putin said.