Trump believes hostility between Zelenskyi and Putin may hinder ending Russia’s war against Ukraine

03.09.2026, 11:14 rubryka.com

According to the American leader, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin "have to stop this stupid war."

Trump also recalled his claims to have ended eight wars.

"Eight. Some of them would have been considered much harder to stop than this one, and I got them stopped," the US president said.

At the same time, in his opinion, hostility between the heads of state, Zelenskyi and Putin, may hinder the end of Russia's war against Ukraine.

Trump also said he was ready to hold talks with the head of the Kremlin. At the same time, he stressed that he would like to meet Putin only when the parties are ready to reach a peace agreement.

Asked whether he expected the Russian dictator to agree to another bilateral meeting in the near future, Trump said:

"Oh, he would. I wanted that, but I want to do it when we are ready to make a peace deal."

Separately, Trump said the United States wants to have "good relations with Russia, Ukraine, with everyone" because, according to him, that is good for business.

"We want to have good relations with Russia, Ukraine, with everyone. That would be great for business. Russia has large territories and very valuable land. A lot of good things are happening," the US president said.

He also added that he was ready to meet Putin "immediately." At the same time, the American leader repeated that he would like to hold such a meeting after the war ends.

"I want to do it when this war is over, and I think we will do it," Trump said.

Background

According to The Times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said Ukraine, the US and Europe had developed proposals to end the war. They provide for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of Ukrainian and Russian troops from the front line, and the creation of a buffer zone. Zelenskyi also said the US has additional proposals.

On August 22, Vladimir Putin called Ukraine's proposals for a peace settlement "exotic" and unacceptable to Russia. Putin refused to clarify which "exotic proposals" had allegedly come from Kyiv. According to him, "this is a kind of probing of possible areas of agreement," and these proposals "have been voiced in one way or another before, but now, in this situation, they are being presented in their own way."

On September 2, the head of the Kremlin made his usual claim that the so-called "liberation" of Donbas was allegedly proceeding "according to plan." He also said the negotiation process on Ukraine was currently in a "frozen state." Putin also claimed that Ukraine was allegedly asking to resume negotiations and personal meetings, but Moscow was not ready for this. At the same time, he stressed that any negotiations, in Moscow's view, must be "filled with specific substance."

In addition, the Kremlin rejected the proposal to create a "buffer zone" in Donbas, which appears in the joint plan of Ukraine, the US, and the EU. Russian dictator's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow considers the occupied Ukrainian territories part of Russia.

Russia's Defense Ministry also threatened to "freeze" Ukraine in winter. The Strategic Communications Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine responded by promising to "warm up by the fire of Russian oil refineries."