Washington, January 23 – President Donald Trump has laid bare the tangled web of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, insisting that both leaders, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, are now open to a deal, yet longstanding disputes over land and borders keep peace elusive.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One en route from Davos, Trump described the war as unnecessarily protracted and squarely blamed the Biden administration for its outbreak. ‘This is a war that should never have happened. It’s Biden’s war, not mine,’ he stated emphatically. The complexity arises from intertwined issues like cities, roads, rivers, and borders, making it challenging to envision an endgame.
Trump highlighted his track record of swiftly resolving other global flashpoints, contrasting it with this drawn-out saga. Despite the hurdles, he detected willingness from both sides. ‘I think President Putin wants a deal. I think President Zelenskyy wants a deal,’ he said, recalling Zelenskyy’s recent visit where the Ukrainian leader expressed eagerness for resolution.
The talks, Trump noted, revolve around familiar sticking points debated for months. Ukraine’s dire winter conditions exacerbate the crisis, with civilians enduring freezing temperatures without heat. Beyond the frontlines, Trump touched on broader diplomacy: ongoing structured talks for Greenland, praise for Venezuela’s oil exports benefiting both nations, robust U.S. military preparedness against Iran—claiming past strikes obliterated nuclear sites—and his potential post-term role in peace efforts via a ‘peace board’ linked to the UN.
Domestically, he cautioned against dipping into retirement funds for home purchases, advocating their preservation amid strong performance. Trump’s candid assessment underscores a pivotal moment, where mutual desire for peace clashes with geopolitical realities, leaving the world watching for breakthroughs.
