US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that negotiating with Ukraine is proving to be more difficult than working with Russia. He emphasized that the US is "doing very well with Russia" and suggested that Moscow might be easier to engage with than Kyiv.
Threat of New Sanctions on Russia
Earlier in the day, Trump mentioned he was "strongly considering" imposing large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire with Ukraine was reached. However, just hours later, he remarked that Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking actions any leader would in a war situation.
Moreover, he acknowledged that Russia had intensified its military operations. "I think he's hitting them [Ukraine] harder than he's been hitting them," Trump said. "And I think probably anyone in that position would be doing that right now."
Despite the possible new sanctions, Trump expressed belief that Putin wants to end the war. However, he questioned Ukraine’s willingness to settle. "I want to know they [Ukraine] want to settle, and I don't know they want to settle," he said when asked about his decision to cut off aid to Kyiv.
Suspension of Military Aid and Satellite Access
Meanwhile, the US recently suspended all military aid and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine following a heated exchange between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskky. Additionally, the US government has temporarily restricted Ukraine’s access to high-quality satellite imagery, as confirmed by space technology company Maxar.
Furthermore, Maxar, which provides satellite images to various governments, stated that the US government made the decision to suspend Ukraine’s access to the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) program. The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, part of the US Department of Defense, confirmed that the move aligns with the administration’s current policy on supporting Ukraine.
Diplomatic Tensions and Trade Negotiations
Trump's direct diplomacy with Putin has surprised NATO allies since Western nations have largely avoided direct contact with Moscow since Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Meanwhile, the US administration is pushing Zelenskky to accept a deal that would grant America significant stakes in Ukrainian minerals and secure a swift truce with Russia.
However, Zelenskky insists that any agreement must include firm security guarantees for Ukraine. Trump acknowledged that security discussions could happen later, calling them the "easy part."
Apology from Zelenskky and Upcoming Talks
Following his
public clash with Trump, Zelenskky has expressed regret and worked to repair relations with the US. On Thursday, US special envoy Steve Witkoff revealed that Trump received a letter from Zelenskky, which included an "apology" and "sense of gratitude."
In addition, Witkoff remained hopeful about future negotiations. "Hopefully, we get things back on track with the Ukrainians, and everything resumes," he said.
Next week, senior US officials will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet with Zelenskky’s team. The Ukrainian president has expressed hope that the talks will be "meaningful" and reaffirmed that Ukraine is "ready for peace as soon as possible."
Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine
Despite diplomatic efforts, fighting continues in Ukraine. On Friday, Russian troops launched new attacks in the Donetsk region, killing five people, according to local authorities. Meanwhile, European leaders are advancing plans to increase military aid, with around 20 countries showing interest in forming a "coalition of the willing" to support Ukraine.
