Russia Ready For Ukraine Talks ‘Without Preconditions’ After Trump Says Putin Doesn’t Want To Stop War
Trump made the remarks after his meeting with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said that they held a ‘symbolic’ meeting on the sidelines of Pope Francis’ funeral.
Russia is prepared to conduct peace talks with Ukraine “without preconditions," President Vladimir Putin informed US envoy Steve Witkoff in a meeting on Friday, according to the Kremlin on Saturday.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated, “During yesterday’s discussions with Trump’s envoy Witkoff, Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia is ready to resume negotiations with Ukraine without any preconditions," noting that Putin has made this declaration multiple times in the past.
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These statements coincide with US President Donald Trump’s expression of disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin. On Saturday, Trump criticised Putin for recent attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine and remarked, “maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war."
In a post on Truth Social following his discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, Trump also speculated that Putin “has to be dealt with differently, possibly through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions’?"
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns, over the last few days," Trump said in the post.
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through ‘Banking’ or ‘Secondary Sanctions?’ Too many people are dying!!!"
The comments by Trump came on the same day he met Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Vatican City on the sidelines of the funeral of Pope Francis.
Zelenskyy said the meeting, first in-person meeting between him and Trump after the tense, heated White House exchange, was a “symbolic" one, “with the potential to become historic".
He said they discussed a possible unconditional ceasefire with Russia and was “hoping for results".
The Ukrainian presidency released photos of the Trump and Zelensky sitting face to face, leaning forward in deep discussion in a corner of the basilica, as the pope’s simple wooden coffin lay in front of the altar before the funeral began.
“We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out," Zelensky wrote on X.
An aide to Zelensky described the meeting as “constructive" and the White House called it “a very productive discussion".
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