Donald Trump signalled the US is prepared to forge an “economic” deal with Russia, saying Washington had recently held “very good talks” with Moscow over ending the war in Ukraine.
The US president’s comments, made to reporters while sitting alongside his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in the Oval Office, came shortly after Washington voted against a UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.
“A lot of progress has been made. We’ve had some very good talks with Russia,” Trump said. “Just as we’re doing with Ukraine, we could do some economic development in terms of Russia and getting things that we want.”
The US president also said Russia’s leader Vladimir Putin would not object to a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine after the conclusion of hostilities. “He has no problem with it,” Trump said.
Macron said: “Europeans are ready to support Ukraine in various ways, supporting its military, and are ready to be present to make sure the peace lasts.”
The comments came shortly after the UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, co-sponsored by Kyiv and EU nations, despite the US voting against it and urging other states to do so.
China, one of Moscow’s closest allies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, abstained in the vote.
Trump’s rapid shift on the war in Ukraine has threatened to tear apart decades of western unity. The US president pushed for a rapid peace deal through bilateral talks with Moscow earlier this month that bypassed Europe and Kyiv.
The move blindsided European capitals which fear a schism in an 80-year transatlantic relationship that has underpinned the continent’s security.
The General Assembly vote came shortly after G7 leaders failed to agree on a joint statement condemning Russia’s war against Ukraine on the third anniversary of Putin’s invasion.
In a further diplomatic setback to the Trump administration on Monday, its own resolution tabled in opposition to the Ukrainian text, backing Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, was only passed after it was amended to include a reference to Russia’s invasion.
The US ultimately abstained in the final vote on its own resolution.