President Trump on Tuesday urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to make a deal and end the brutal four-year war with Russia, saying Kyiv doesn’t have the manpower to defeat Russia and the world’s patience is growing thin.
“Ukraine has to want to make a deal because the United States has spent a fortune. Europe has spent a fortune. Europe’s tired of it right now. They’re tired of it right now. And if they don’t make a deal, ultimately, it’s just going to get worse,” Mr. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Mr. Trump said that Russia keeps marching forward and, because of its larger population, can put more boots on the ground, adding that Ukraine just can’t keep up.
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“They have an unlimited supply of people,” Mr. Trump said of Russia. “Ukraine has lost a lot of people. Russia has lost a lot of people. Russia, though, is a giant nation. Ukraine is not.”
Mr. Trump’s increased determination to push Ukraine towards a deal comes the same day White House special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Mr. Zelenskyy in Oslo, Norway. Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, will participate in the meeting remotely.
Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Finland’s President Alexander Stubb will also take part in the discussion.
The next day, Mr. Witkoff and Mr. Kushner will fly to St. Petersburg, Russia, to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in his hometown. While there, they are expected to also try to win the release of hostage Steven Hubbard, a 72-year-old American teacher.
Republican lawmakers are incensed about Mr. Trump’s stance on Ukraine — but are powerless to stop him.
Over the weekend, Mr. Trump agreed to waive sanctions on Moscow to allow the purchase of Russian diesel fuel, a sign that the rift between Washington and Kyiv is getting larger.
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