Former U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that negotiating peace between Ukraine and Russia is proving to be more challenging with Ukraine than with Russia. Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump remarked that the U.S. is "doing very well with Russia" and suggested that dealing with Moscow might be easier than working with Kyiv.
Earlier, Trump expressed that he was considering imposing significant sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire with Ukraine was reached. In addition, the U.S. has temporarily restricted Ukraine's access to specific satellite imagery, as confirmed by space technology company Maxar. This move follows Trump's earlier decision to pause military aid to Ukraine.
Tensions between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky escalated after Trump publicly criticized him for being "disrespectful" toward the U.S. This incident was followed by Trump's decision to halt all military assistance and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv. Shortly after, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone strike on Ukraine's energy infrastructure.
Trump's proposed sanctions against Russia appeared to be a response to the intensified attacks. However, he later commented that Russian President Vladimir Putin was acting as any leader would in his position. "I think he's hitting them [Ukraine] harder than before, and I believe most leaders in that situation would do the same," Trump stated. He also suggested that while he believes Putin wants to end the conflict, he is uncertain about Ukraine's willingness to negotiate.
Trump's direct engagement with Putin has surprised NATO allies, as most Western nations have limited their diplomatic contacts with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite the disagreements between Trump and Zelensky, Trump's foreign policy team has recently adopted a more conciliatory approach toward Ukraine after initially suspending military and intelligence support.
Reports indicate that the U.S. wants Ukraine to agree to a deal that would grant American stakeholders significant access to Ukrainian mineral resources, along with a swift truce with Moscow. However, Zelensky has been pushing for firm security guarantees as part of any agreement. Trump suggested that such security guarantees could be discussed later, calling them the "easy part."
Meanwhile, space technology company Maxar confirmed that the U.S. government had temporarily suspended Ukraine's access to high-resolution satellite imagery, which is crucial for intelligence gathering during wartime. Maxar noted that such decisions are made by the U.S. government, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, a division of the U.S. Department of Defense, confirmed that this move aligns with the administration’s directive on aid to Ukraine.
Looking ahead, Trump’s senior officials are scheduled to meet Zelensky’s team in Saudi Arabia to continue negotiations. Zelensky has expressed hope for meaningful discussions and reiterated Ukraine's desire for peace as soon as possible. He emphasized that "concrete steps" have been proposed to achieve peace and that ongoing Russian attacks demonstrate the need to pressure Moscow into ending hostilities.
In an effort to mend relations, Zelensky reportedly sent a letter to Trump expressing an "apology" and gratitude for past U.S. support. Special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that Trump received the letter and suggested that U.S.-Ukraine relations could soon be back on track.
Meanwhile, European leaders continue to push forward with increased military support for Ukraine. Officials from the U.K. have indicated that around 20 countries are interested in forming a coalition to assist Ukraine. On the battlefield, fighting remains intense, with reports of casualties in the Donetsk region due to Russian attacks.