President Trump said late Sunday that he is deliberately delaying a decision on a deal involving Russia, explaining that he does not want to jeopardize ongoing negotiations to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.
In a statement, Trump wrote that “great progress is being made,” including on hostage negotiations, and said signing an unspecified document now could drive Russia away from the bargaining table. “I can sign it later, or any time that I want!” he wrote.
My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don’t want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table. Great progress is being made, and that includes current hostage negotiations!
Trump also said Russia is doing “very little, if anything,” to help Iran compared with what it could be doing, and that he wants to keep it that way, “unless stupid people get in the way.”
Much of the president’s statement focused on Ukrainian strikes against Russian diesel refineries, which he said are hurting global diesel markets, including in the United States. He said farmers, ranchers and businesses “of all kinds” are suffering as a result, even as Russia continues to sell diesel abroad at low prices.
Trump was sharply critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, writing that Zelenskyy “doesn’t care” about the market impact and, given the financial support he has received from Europe and from the Biden administration, “probably never” wanted to end the war. Trump argued Zelenskyy could have secured a better deal two years ago, saying Ukraine has since lost territory, access to its coastline, and suffered heavy losses among its male population.
I WANT THIS WAR END! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP
The statement did not specify whether any meetings with Russian or Ukrainian officials have been scheduled. Trump did not name the document he is declining to sign.
