As the conflict continues to escalate in Ukraine, Donald Trump has outlined his intentions regarding the recent Russian assaults.
Trump has consistently stated that he aims to bring an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has persisted since 2014.
Despite the U.S. engaging in discussions with both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin, achieving lasting peace has proven elusive.
Just yesterday (April 24), Trump criticized a Russian drone strike in Kyiv that resulted in the deaths of nine individuals, expressing his discontent with the attack.
This particular incident led to the deaths of at least nine people and injured over 70, marking it as the most lethal attack on Kyiv since the previous July.
Using his social media platform, Truth Social, he stated: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”
On Thursday (April 24), Trump faced queries from reporters concerning the U.S.’s potential response to continued Russian aggression during a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in the Oval Office.
During the session, he was questioned about the possibility of imposing further sanctions on Moscow if a peace agreement wasn’t reached soon.
Trump replied: “I’d rather answer that question in a week. I want to see if we can have a deal.”
Another journalist pressed for an explanation on why the U.S. wasn’t exerting more pressure on Russia and what additional measures could be applied.
Trump retorted: “I’m putting a lot of pressure. You don’t know what pressure I’m putting. They’re dealing. You have no idea what pressure I’m putting on Russia.
“We’re putting a lot of pressure and Russia knows that and some people who are close to it know or he wouldn’t be talking right now.
“The Prime Minister understands that better than anybody, he wouldn’t be talking, he is talking and we are putting a lot of pressure and we think he wants to make a deal.
“We are going to find out very soon but it takes two to tango and you have to have Ukraine want to make a deal too and they are being hit very hard and I do believe they do want to make a deal.”
While an official peace agreement is still pending, the White House reportedly made a proposal during discussions in London on Wednesday (April 23).
On the same day, Trump appeared to express frustration with Zelenskyy on Truth Social, writing (via Sky News): “We are very close to a deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE.”