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US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his administration’s efforts to bring Russia-Ukraine peace were “hopefully underway” and that he wanted to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.
In a much-anticipated address via VideoLink to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said: “I would really like to be able to meet with President Putin soon to end this war, and it’s not about the economy or anything else.
In December, Trump said that Putin had expressed an interest in meeting him.
Russian President Vladimir Putin winks during his annual year-end televised news conference and telephone call in Moscow, Russia, December 19, 2024.
Gavriil Grigorov | Via Reuters
Without elaborating, Trump also said Thursday: “Our efforts to secure a peace settlement between Russia and Ukraine are now underway. It is so important to do that.”
Meanwhile he suggested that high oil prices were the cause of the warand called on the OPEC producer group to cut prices.
Trump earlier this week threatened to impose “high levels” of sanctions and tariffs on Russia if it does not “make a deal” to end its war on Ukraine.
His approach was praised by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in an interview at the WEF earlier on Thursday. Rutte told CNBC he was “very happy” about Trump’s threat of sanctions. Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof similarly endorsed the president’s comments, telling CNBC that such sanctions would be “good pressure on Russia to act.”
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky attends the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025.
Yves Herman | Reuters
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky struck a more skeptical tone during his address on Tuesday in Davos, questioning whether Trump would “even notice Europe” during his presidency. Attendees at the KYIV promotion event A set of peace proposals As the war nears its third anniversary, Zelensky also suggested that Trump could ignore Europe to overcome Ukraine peace talks by working with Russia and China.
Washington has already issued sanctions against Russia targeting areas including supply and energytogether with People believed to support the war effort. The US has also provided far Biggest financial aid of Ukraine to any nation, including billions in military aid.
US funding for KYIV has become increasingly controversial, with former US President Joe Biden struggling to pass a foreign aid bill, including $60 billion in support for Ukraine in April 2024. Trump’s re-election in November raised questions about the future of the war, including whether Trump’s re-election in November raised questions about the future of the war, including whether Europe would increase its own contribution to Ukraine.
NATO chief Ruth told CNBC that Europe should also “strengthen” its own sanctions to “stifle the Russian economy.”
