As the war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year, former U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly challenged the narrative surrounding potential peace negotiations.In an exclusive interview with Reuters on January 15, 2026, Trump asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rather than Russian president Vladimir Putin, is currently hindering progress towards a resolution. The Kremlin quickly echoed this assessment, a divergence of views that underscores the complex geopolitical landscape and the differing perspectives on achieving a lasting peace.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has asserted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, rather than Russian President Vladimir Putin, is hindering potential peace negotiations to end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The statement, made during an exclusive interview with Reuters on January 15, 2026, comes as the war approaches its fourth year.
“I think he [Putin] is ready to make a deal. Ukraine is less ready to make a deal,”
Trump stated from the Oval Office. The former president attributed the lack of progress in U.S.-led negotiations to resolve Europe’s largest land conflict since World War II directly to Zelenskyy.
“Zelenskiy.”
This assessment sharply contrasts with the position held by many European allies, who consistently maintain that Moscow has shown no genuine interest in ending the war in Ukraine. The Reuters report notes that Trump’s comments reflect a renewed tension in the relationship between the two presidents, despite a perceived improvement during his first year in office. The development underscores the diverging perspectives on how to achieve a resolution to the conflict.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has echoed Trump’s sentiment, agreeing with his assertion that Zelenskyy is obstructing a potential peace agreement. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Trump was “right” and emphasized that “President Putin and the Russian side remain open [to negotiations].”
