On Saturday, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his belief that the conflict in Ukraine is approaching a resolution, though he cautioned that it is still too early to be certain.
Speaking to reporters at the White House following a meeting with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, Trump commented on the prospects of a deal between Russia and Ukraine: “I think they’re getting very close, but I don’t want to make predictions.”
He noted that he had hoped for a quicker resolution to the crisis, explaining, “I thought it might happen faster given my very good relationship with President [Vladimir] Putin,” adding, “But it takes two to tango,” implying that both sides need to cooperate.
Trump emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky must agree to the U.S. peace plan for Ukraine, stating, “I told him he doesn’t hold the cards, and I believe he should have made a peace deal a year or two ago.”
He also reiterated his criticism of his predecessor, Joe Biden, saying, “This war should never have started. I blame the person who was also sitting behind this desk.”