Trump: Ending Ukraine war is in Russia’s best interest
US President Donald Trump stated that it is in Russia’s best interest to strike a deal and end the war in Ukraine, adding that he believes President Vladimir Putin is willing to negotiate.
During a joint news conference at the White House with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump addressed the ongoing war on the third anniversary of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump: Russia Should Make a Deal
Trump emphasized that making peace would benefit Russia, responding to questions about his trust in President Putin.
“It’s very much to Russia’s benefit to make a deal, and I feel that we’ll do that,” Trump said. “There is tremendous distrust on both sides.”
He revealed that one of his first calls after starting his second term was to President Putin, whom he believes is ready to negotiate.
“It is to the benefit of Russia to make a deal and for President Putin to go on with leading Russia in a very positive way,” Trump added.
Additionally, Trump hinted at a potential deal with Ukraine, suggesting that the US could gain rights to rare earth minerals in exchange for billions of dollars in security aid sent to Ukraine.
Macron Calls for Verified Security Guarantees
President Emmanuel Macron, who had earlier met European allies, emphasized the need for verified security guarantees in any peace agreement with Russia.
“I think it’s super important to bring peace,” Macron said. “But my strong point was to say, let’s try to get something first, which can be assessed, checked, and verified.”
Macron also stressed that Europe needs U.S. backing to maintain credible security guarantees and collective deterrence.
“A lot of my European colleagues are ready to be engaged, but we do need American backup, because this is part of the credibility of security guarantees,” he said.
US Breaks with Europe at UN
Earlier in the day, the United States broke ranks with European allies by voting against a UN General Assembly resolution that condemned Russia as the aggressor.
The meeting between Trump and Macron highlights the shifting dynamics in U.S.-European relations and the uncertain future of Western support for Ukraine.
