In an interview with NBC News, U. S. President Donald Trump stated that negotiating with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky is more challenging than dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump expressed his surprise at Zelensky’s reluctance to strike a deal, urging him to come to terms, as Putin is ready to negotiate.

This remark from Trump came amid international criticism of the Biden administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russian oil. Trump promised that the U.S. would reinstate these sanctions once global energy prices stabilize.

Earlier this month, Trump publicly stated that Zelensky is a significant barrier to peace with Russia. According to him, Putin is eager to finalize an agreement, but the Ukrainian leader has shown insufficient willingness to engage in meaningful negotiations. Trump emphasized that talks are still ongoing.

Additionally, Zelensky had recently proposed assisting U.S. forces in the Middle East with intercepting Iranian drones. However, Trump swiftly responded, stating that the U.S. does not require such assistance.