Trump Urges Zelensky to Be ‘Flexible’ in Peace Talks, Attributes Russia’s Invasion to NATO Expansion

U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin might encounter a “difficult situation” if he does not demonstrate a commitment to negotiating a peace agreement with Ukraine. He also encouraged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to be prepared to “exhibit some flexibility” during talks.

“I hope President Putin will act decisively. If he doesn’t, it could lead to a tough situation,” Trump stated in a phone interview on Fox & Friends. “And I hope Zelensky… will take the necessary steps. He needs to demonstrate some flexibility.”

On Monday, Trump caught many by surprise by announcing that a face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelensky was being planned, following a day filled with critical discussions between European leaders and the Ukrainian president at the White House.

“Perhaps they are getting along better than I had anticipated. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have arranged the [bilateral meeting],” Trump remarked on Fox & Friends, referring to the proposed talks between Zelensky and Putin. “I wouldn’t say they’ll ever be best friends, but they are doing OK.”

Zelensky mentioned on Monday that he is open to meeting with Putin. The Kremlin has not yet confirmed whether plans for a summit have begun, only stating that it is “considering the possibility” of direct high-level discussions with Ukraine following a phone call between Trump and Putin.

According to two sources familiar with the conversation, Putin proposed a meeting with Zelensky in Moscow, but the Ukrainian president declined, stating, “No.”

During his appearance on Fox & Friends, Trump also implied that Ukraine played a role in provoking Russia’s invasion in 2022, asserting that the “war essentially started over NATO and Crimea,” a region annexed by Moscow in 2014.

He described Crimea as “the most beautiful property you’ve ever seen,” placing the blame on former President Barack Obama for allowing it to be “given away in one of the most foolish real estate transactions.”

In response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Obama administration imposed economic sanctions and limited diplomatic interactions.

Trump noted that the conflict has primarily resulted in the deaths of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers, with relatively few civilians affected by missiles that “hit the wrong targets or are launched into cities like Kyiv and towns,” suggesting he believes Russia is not purposely targeting civilians.

“But, you know, if I can save 7,000 people a week from being killed, I think that’s… I want to try and reach heaven if possible,” he stated during the phone interview. “I just want to put an end to it.”

When asked about possible land exchanges between Moscow and Kyiv as part of a peace agreement, Trump mentioned that Ukraine would “acquire a significant amount of land” but did not provide further details.

He then proposed that France, Germany, and the U.K. might send “boots on the ground” to Ukraine as peacekeepers, while opposing direct U.S. military involvement.

“There will be some form of security [for Ukraine]. It can’t be NATO,” the American president explained. “If you were Russia, would you want your enemy, your opponent, on your border? You don’t do that,” he added, referring to Ukraine as a “sort of buffer between Russia and the rest of Europe.”

“Everything was going well until Biden got involved,” Trump concluded.