U.S. President Donald Trump declared that he is prepared for an “economic war” with Russia if a resolution to the Ukraine crisis is not reached, while also stating that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is not innocent and has not made clear moves toward peace.

Speaking to reporters during a regular presidential cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said, “I want this (conflict in Ukraine) to end. There won’t be a world war, but it will be an economic war, and that economic war will be bad—it will be bad for Russia, and I don’t want that.”

The American president revealed that he does not consider Zelenskyy blameless, given the lack of any clear initiative toward peace in Ukraine.

Commenting on resolving the conflict, he said, “Zelenskyy isn’t innocent either. It takes two to tango.” Trump added, speaking about a potential meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy:“I always say, ‘They must meet.’”⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾