Trump presses Zelenskyy to pursue peace deal, says Putin is more willing to negotiate

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to focus on securing a peace agreement with Russia, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more willing to negotiate an end to the war than his Ukrainian counterpart.

Speaking about the prospects for a deal, Trump said he believed Moscow wanted to reach an agreement but suggested that Washington needed to persuade Zelenskyy to pursue negotiations.

“I think what’s happening is he (Russian President Putin) wants to make a deal, and we have to get Zelenskyy to want to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think they’re going to make a deal. I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelenskyy.”

Trump’s remarks signal continued pressure from Washington on Kyiv to move towards a settlement, even as the terms of a potential agreement and the willingness of both sides to accept a compromise remain central questions.

The US president also suggested that Zelenskyy should concentrate on negotiations rather than making statements about the process.

“Zelenskyy has to focus on making the deal, not talking about that,” Trump said.

Trump hints at possible US oil restrictions

Trump also discussed the possibility of restricting US oil supplies, saying such a move could have significant consequences for the rest of the world.

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The US president said Washington could impose restrictions on oil or diesel exports but argued that other countries would be affected by such a decision.

“We make a lot of oil. We could impose a restriction on oil, but the rest of the world would be greatly affected if we did that,” Trump said.

He added that the United States could cap diesel supplies and retain more of the fuel for domestic use, arguing that this would have a substantial impact.

“It’s not really a deal for me; it’s a deal for the rest of the world,” Trump said, referring to the broader implications of such restrictions.

Trump also said he favoured measures that could benefit American farmers and ranchers, linking his comments to the interests of domestic producers.

His remarks raise questions about how the United States might use its position as a major energy producer in pursuing its economic and foreign policy objectives. However, he did not announce a specific restriction on oil or diesel supplies in the quoted remarks.

The challenge of reaching a Russia-Ukraine settlement

Any peace agreement would have to address the competing demands of Moscow and Kyiv, including the future of occupied Ukrainian territory and the security arrangements that would follow a ceasefire.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Since then, the war has caused extensive destruction, displaced millions of people and created wider economic repercussions through energy markets, trade and defence spending.

Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict and has sought to position the United States as a central force in negotiations. However, reaching a settlement would depend on the terms acceptable to both Russia and Ukraine.

Trump’s latest comments place the onus on Zelenskyy to pursue an agreement, while portraying Putin as more willing to negotiate. His assessment, however, does not by itself establish either leader’s readiness to accept a deal.