Trump Finds Negotiating with Ukraine 'More Challenging' than Russia

Former President Trump comments on his challenging diplomacy efforts regarding Ukraine, amidst a wavering military aid landscape and ongoing conflict.

US President Donald Trump has recently made headlines by asserting that he experiences more difficulty in negotiating with Ukraine than with Russia while attempting to broker peace between the two countries. Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump remarked that "the US is doing very well with Russia," implying that it may actually be easier to engage with Moscow than with Kyiv.

Hours prior to this statement, Trump hinted at imposing large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia pending a ceasefire with Ukraine. This comes at a critical time as the US has also decided to temporarily halt Ukraine's access to certain satellite images, according to reports from Maxar, a space technology company. This suspension follows Trump pausing military aid to Ukraine.

The situation escalated following a controversial exchange last week in which Trump reprimanded Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for perceived disrespect towards the US. Trump's decision to cut off US military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine closely followed the exchange, coinciding with Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.

During discussions about the recent attacks, Trump suggested he was considering new tariffs on Russia because of the escalating violence they are inflicting on Ukraine. He defended Putin's actions, stating, "I think he's hitting them [Ukraine] harder than he's been hitting them," while expressing uncertainty about whether Ukraine desires peace.

Trump's approach to Russia has been met with skepticism among NATO allies, especially as the West has largely avoided direct engagement with Moscow since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Contradicting his emerging narrative, he indicated a willingness to engage in negotiations that might include a major stake in Ukrainian minerals, while suggesting security guarantees for Ukraine could be resolved later.

On Friday, Trump confirmed the suspension of satellite imagery access to Ukraine resultant from government directives. Maxar stated this halt in service is based on the administration's stance towards support for Ukraine.

Next week, senior US officials are expected to meet with Zelensky's team in Saudi Arabia, as pressure mounts for Ukraine's president to adhere to Trump's expectations. Despite the ongoing turbulence in US-Ukrainian relations, President Zelensky has expressed readiness for peace and proposed concrete steps for achieving it. He stated, “Every day, new Russian strikes and reality itself prove that it is Russia that must be forced to peace.” Following their public dispute, Zelensky has conveyed an apology to Trump aimed at restoring their relationship.

UK officials reported a growing interest among around 20 countries to join a "coalition of the willing" aimed at supporting Ukraine, as European leaders strategize for increased military funding. Meanwhile, conflict on the ground remains dire, with reports of fatalities due to Russian actions in the Donetsk region.