US president says he finds Russia easier to deal with than Ukraine after cutting off intelligence and weapons to Kyiv.
Donald Trump has said Vladimir Putin was “doing what anybody would do” after Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine days after the US cut off vital intelligence and military aid to Kyiv. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office on Friday Trump said he finds it “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine and that Putin “wants to end the war”.
“I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. And they don’t have the cards,” Trump said. “In terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia.” Asked whether the Russian leader was taking advantage of the pause in US intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine, Trump replied: “I actually think he is doing what anybody else would do.” Senior US and Ukrainian officials plan to meet in Saudi Arabia next week as Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his advisers seek to revive relations with the US after a botched summit in the Oval Office during which Trump told Zelenskyy he was “gambling with world war three”.
Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities on Friday in the wake of the US decision to halt intelligence sharing with Ukraine that had helped it target incoming fire. Speaking with reporters in the Oval Office, Trump said: “We’re doing very well with Russia. But right now they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine.” He added: “I think he [Putin] wants to get it stopped and settled and I think he’s hitting them harder than he’s been hitting them, and I think probably anybody in that position would be doing that right now.”
In his remarks, Trump once again said he had good relations with Putin, despite the fallout from his first term when suspicions of backroom deals between the two leaders led to political scandal. “Despite the Russia, Russia, Russia hoax I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin,” Trump said. “He wants to end the war. And I think he’s going to be more generous than he has to be.”
Trump’s vague threat was in contrast to the punitive steps he has already taken against Ukraine, including an end to US military supplies announced earlier this week and the intelligence shutdown. On Friday the US aerospace company Maxar Technologies disabled Ukraine’s access to its satellite images after a request from the Trump administration. There were reports that Ukraine’s position on the battlefield had worsened as a direct result of hostile US actions. One source said Ukraine’s drones, used extensively across a 620-mile (1,000km) frontline, were “10-15% less accurate” than before.
Rawr
Article URL : https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/07/trump-says-it-is-easier-to-deal-with-russia-and-putin-wants-to-end-the-war