Trump Claims Putin Wants a Peace Deal More Than Zelensky

US President Donald Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more eager to reach a peace deal than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, with the White House broadcasting the remarks live.

Trump's assessment

Trump did not elaborate on the basis for his claim. The statement came amid ongoing diplomatic maneuvering around the Ukraine war, including separate discussions about a US deal permitting Russian diesel fuel purchases — which the Trump administration has framed as a step toward softening Moscow's negotiating position.

The comment drew immediate pushback in Kyiv, where Ukrainian officials have consistently rejected any settlement requiring the cession of occupied territory.

Context: diesel deal diplomacy

Reuters had earlier reported, citing a source close to the Kremlin, that Putin would likely agree to return to negotiations only if Ukraine surrendered the Donbas territory currently under Ukrainian army control. The Trump administration reportedly views the diesel deal as a mechanism to bring Russia closer to the negotiating table.

Ukrainian officials and European partners have criticized the diesel deal, warning it rewards Russian aggression and risks undermining the Western sanctions structure built since 2022.