Donald Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House.Donald Trump has been criticised after he claimed Vladimir Putin wants to end the war in Ukraine more than Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The US president insisted his Russian counterpart “wants to make a deal”, but the Ukrainian leader does not.
The war began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, and since then Putin has rejected any attempts at a peace deal.
Trump’s latest comments on the conflict came after he agreed a sanctions-busting deal to buy diesel from Russia, and called for Zelenskyy to be replaced.
The president also claimed to have agreed an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, but Moscow has continued to attack targets in its neighbouring country.
Speaking outside the White House, Trump told reporters: “Zelenskyy has to focus on making a deal.
“I think what’s happening is [Putin] wants to make a deal and we have to get Zelenskyy to want to make a deal.
“I think they’re going to make a deal. I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelenskyy.”
Trump: I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelenskyy pic.twitter.com/isR93lUXBz
— Acyn (@Acyn) October 12, 2026Trump’s latest criticisms of Zelenskyy sparked an angry backlash on social media.
Stupid and evil. What a combo. https://t.co/S7wErQ6NFM
— Calvin Freiburger ✝️ 🇺🇸 🇮🇱 🇺🇦 (@CalFreiburger) October 12, 2026The Kremlin Press Secretary says what?
— Reggie B. (@reggiebblue) October 12, 2026Based on what? Because Putin told you that in one of your long, loving phone calls? Zelenskyy keeps agreeing to deals, Putin keeps rejecting them and increasing Russian attacks on civilians. Putin could end the war in an instant. He doesn’t want to. https://t.co/O3axwTC8et
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) October 12, 2026If only Trump defended Americans as hard as he defends Russia https://t.co/4pyq3IFnmB
— Joni Askola (@joni_askola) October 12, 2026Trump is a disgrace. A traitor. https://t.co/2Hc3q5Yx0f
— Dave Gunkul - founder of GobGunk (@GobGunk) October 12, 2026Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.
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