President Trump said Friday warned that the U.S. would cut off its support for Ukraine if it did not agree to settle its war against Russia, telling reporters it has been “more difficult” to deal with Kyiv than with Moscow.
“I think we’re doing very well with Russia. But right now, they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards. They don’t have the cards.”
Trump has pressed for an end to the war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022 when Russian forces launched an invasion after amassing troops along the border. Administration officials met with their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia last month and are set to meet with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia next week.
The president has spoken with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin about the conflict, though he has been much more critical of Zelensky. The United States suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv in recent days.
Asked why he would not provide defensive military equipment to Ukraine so it could guard against Russian bombings, Trump said Friday he was not sure Ukrainian leaders wanted to end the war.
“I have to know that they want to settle,” Trump said. “I don’t know that they want to settle. If they don’t want to settle, we’re out of there. Because we want them to settle. And I’m doing it to stop death.”
Zelensky posted on social media earlier this week that Ukraine is “ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer. Nobody wants peace more than Ukrainians. My team and I stand ready to work under President Trump’s strong leadership to get a peace that lasts.”
Trump earlier Friday threatened additional sanctions and tariffs against Russia if it did not come to the table for a ceasefire agreement.
