US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin was more eager to reach a deal than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while defending his announcement of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
“I think, actually, Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelensky,” Trump said in remarks shared by the White House’s Rapid Response account.
A reporter asked Trump about his ceasefire announcement, saying neither side had agreed to it.
“They agreed. You know why? Because I said, ‘You agree’ - that’s why,” Trump responded. “They agreed because I said they agreed, and that thing has to get settled.”
Zelensky says ceasefire announcement surprised him
Trump announced on Sunday that an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine would take effect immediately, without detailing the agreement.
Zelensky subsequently told Axios that the announcement “was news for me.” He said Ukraine would agree if Russia accepted an energy ceasefire.
The Ukrainian president had also expressed readiness to suspend strikes on Russian refineries if Moscow stopped attacking Ukraine’s energy facilities.
Diplomatic source outlines Ukraine’s proposals
A diplomatic source told The Jerusalem Post on Sunday that Ukraine had made several proposals in recent weeks for both countries to stop targeting energy infrastructure.
Kyiv’s offer linked a halt to its attacks on Russian energy sites with an end to Russian strikes on Ukraine’s electricity infrastructure. According to the source, Putin ultimately sought the removal of sanctions limiting Russian oil and diesel trade.
On Friday, Trump announced an agreement with Putin to increase Russian diesel supplies to American and international markets. He presented the arrangement as a way to reduce fuel prices and criticized Ukraine’s refinery attacks.
Ukrainian and European officials warned that sanctions relief would benefit Russia economically without securing a matching commitment to curb its attacks on Ukraine, the Post reported.
Elections become part of ceasefire dispute
Trump’s latest comments followed his suggestion on Saturday that Ukraine should have a new president.
Zelensky responded on Sunday that Ukrainians would decide who leads their country. During an interview with ABC’s This Week, he offered to organize elections if Russia agreed to a complete ceasefire lasting 60 days.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen backed Zelensky’s call for a ceasefire, the commission said on Sunday.
Reuters and Amichai Stein contributed to this report.