President Donald Trump claimed that a ‘tremendous bad blood’ between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin is preventing a peace deal in the ongoing war. The comment came during Trump’s White House meeting with Zelenskyy, where he highlighted the complexities of the situation, comparing it to the Middle East ceasefire efforts. Trump was optimistic about a lasting peace agreement and suggested that it is achievable. Zelenskyy, seated beside Trump, expressed hope that Trump could successfully navigate the peace process. Following a recent phone call with Putin, Trump mentioned ‘great progress’ was made, though he offered no specific details on the discussions. The planned meeting in Hungary was confirmed, with both leaders hoping to build on the recent progress.
According to reports, during the recent phone call with Putin, Trump mentioned ‘great progress’ was made, though he did not provide any specifics on how progress was achieved. However, the pair agreed to meet in person again, this time in Hungary. Despite the optimism, the situation remains complex. Trump suggested that the Middle East ceasefire example could serve as a model for a peace deal in Ukraine, but the path to a resolution is uncertain.
Zelenskyy has made clear his chief aim is to secure better defenses for Ukraine amid Russia’s constant aerial bombardments of civilian targets like cities, energy infrastructure and hospitals, and his big-ticket item is the American Tomahawk missile. With the capability of hitting beyond even Moscow, the sophisticated high-precision long-range cruise missile could increase Ukraine’s ability to strike further into Russia and better target not only its military complex, but its oil industry, which has largely funded Putin’s war chest. However, according to Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, the issue was discussed and opposed by Putin, who argued that Tomahawks would not change the battlefield situation, but could cause significant damage to relations between the two countries and hinder the prospects for a peaceful settlement.
During the meeting, Trump also said it’s crucial to continue providing advanced weaponry to Ukraine, including Tomahawks. This has become a point of contention, as the U.S. has been a major supplier of defensive aid to Ukraine, which has been used to counter Russian attacks. While Trump remained optimistic about achieving a lasting peace, the situation is complicated by the lack of agreement between Zelenskyy and Putin. As the conflict continues, the potential for a resolution remains uncertain, and the international community is watching closely for any breakthroughs in the peace process.
Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House was his third this year. In his previous visit in February, Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Zelenskyy sparred during their meeting, resulting in a tense exchange. The recent meeting, however, was more subdued, with Trump expressing hope for progress and a successful resolution to the conflict. Despite the optimism, the situation remains complex and the path to a lasting peace is not clear.