Former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his deep frustration towards Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone interview on Sunday, labelling the Russian leader as 'pissed off' following comments he made regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's legitimacy. Trump’s remarks came amid ongoing peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which seem to have encountered significant obstacles recently.
Speaking to NBC host Kristen Welker, Trump strongly condemned Putin's questioning of Zelensky's credibility and the suggestion that the war-torn country could benefit from new leadership. Trump stated, "If we're in the midst of a negotiation, you could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when Putin said yesterday that—when Putin started getting into Zelenskyy's credibility, because that's not going in the right location, you understand?" He elaborated that Putin's call for 'new leadership' implied that any potential deal would be postponed indefinitely, commenting that, "new leadership means you're not gonna have a deal for a long time, right?"
On the diplomatic front, Trump warned that Russia could expect a new wave of severe economic sanctions as a result of its recent stance in the negotiations. He indicated that this could include a steep tariff of between 25 and 50 percent on Russian oil exports, alongside a stern warning to other nations that engaging in oil trade with Russia would mean they cannot conduct business in the United States. Trump, who has framed upcoming economic measures under the banner of 'Liberation Day', announced plans to unveil these tariffs on Wednesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded to Trump's statements, using social media platform X to urge the U.S. to take a more decisive stance against Russia. He implored Trump to 'force Russia into peace', asserting the necessity for a stronger commitment from the U.S. and its allies to ensure security guarantees for Ukraine once a ceasefire is in effect. Zelensky wrote, "Right now, Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further," warning that Putin has been employing the same tactics since the onset of the conflict in 2014.
Putin, during a recent visit to Murmansk, reiterated his demand for Zelensky to resign in order to facilitate the peace process. He claimed that Russia has secured the 'strategic initiative' along front lines and issued a new threat to 'finish off' Ukrainian forces, reinforcing the stance that new leadership in Ukraine is necessary to move forward with peace talks.
Furthermore, tensions remain high, as despite the diplomatic conversations, Russian military operations persist, with reports indicating the capture of two villages in eastern and southern Ukraine over the weekend. This military activity undermines the potential for a swift resolution between the two countries.
As the international community continues to watch the developments closely, Trump indicated that he would be in touch with Putin later in the week. He expressed that a breakdown in negotiations would result in further sanctions against Russia, heavily impacting their oil trade and any country trading with them. The U.S. is currently playing a pivotal role in mediating these peace negotiations, which were initially thought to be moving towards a resolution, but recent statements from both leaders have left the outcome unclear.
Source: Noah Wire Services