Donald Trump has expressed his views on the current state of international affairs and ways to achieve peace, making unexpected statements about cooperation with Vladimir Putin and criticizing Zelensky
In his new interview with Fox News in the program "Special Report," he emphasized that, from his perspective, the main obstacle to peace is not the Russian president, but Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky. outlining his positions, Trump categorically refrained from blaming Vladimir Putin. On the contrary, he highlighted that the Russian leader seeks solutions and wants to end the conflict, but faces internal difficulties and, according to Trump, the lack of "trump cards" in the Ukrainian president. "Listen, I had a rather tough conversation with Zelensky, and I did not like what he said. He did not make the situation easier; on the contrary, he complicated it. I have always said and repeat: he has no trump cards. And indeed, he doesn't," stated the former U.S. president. When asked by the host about his previous appeal to Putin on the social media platform Truth Social, where he called on "Vladimir, stop," Trump responded that he does not blame the Kremlin for continuing the war. Instead, he is convinced that Putin is interested in negotiations and is already tired of the fighting. "He does not look very good right now. And he wants to look better. Don’t forget, everything was supposed to end a week ago. If he hadn’t gotten into this mud with tanks, they would already be in Kyiv within five hours," Trump noted. The former president emphasized that no dialogue without his involvement can be imagined, as his personal diplomatic connections with Putin make any peace achievement possible. "I believe that without me, meetings will not happen and an agreement will not be reached. I have very good relations with Putin, and I am convinced that we can reach an agreement," he said. According to him, the resolution of the conflict depends on political will, and his personal participation could be a key to peace. Another important topic is the possibility of imposing strong economic sanctions in case diplomatic efforts fail. Trump stated that he is ready to impose sanctions on oil and those who buy it, citing an initiative by a group of senators led by Lindsey Graham. At the same time, he noted that such measures are extreme and should be applied only if absolutely necessary. "I can impose sanctions if needed. It will be a devastating blow to Russia, especially considering the current low oil prices and its economic problems. That will significantly change the situation," the former U.S. president emphasized. Overall, Trump's statements demonstrate his confidence in his ability to influence the situation, while openly criticizing those in power in Ukraine. Having stepped back from active politics, he eagerly promotes his idea of a special role in any possible peace process, promising to use all available levers to achieve the desired outcome. According to him, the future resolution of the conflict depends on diplomacy, but he remains the main protagonist.