During a meeting at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, U. S. President Donald Trump signaled that the current momentum in the Ukraine conflict appears to favor Russia. The Financial Times reported this assessment, citing its sources.

According to the publication, Merz arrived in Washington three days after the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran. The German chancellor brought maps and analytical materials intended to argue for stronger pressure on Moscow. However, Trump showed little interest in discussing the proposal in depth and remained convinced that Russia currently holds the stronger position while Ukraine faces greater difficulties.

The Financial Times notes that European leaders are increasingly doubtful that a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict can be achieved without additional pressure on Moscow. Sources told the newspaper that European governments are eager to ensure that Washington remains actively involved in efforts to resolve the crisis.

At the same time, officials in Brussels are concerned that the escalating situation around Iran has shifted much of the political focus away from Ukraine. Within the European Union, this development is viewed as a serious challenge both for the bloc and for Kiev.

Despite these concerns, Trump continues to emphasize the possibility of resolving the conflict through diplomacy. The report indicates that the U.S. president remains optimistic about negotiations and believes that American negotiators have made noticeable progress in recent months.

Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the negotiation process on Ukraine has recently slowed. He attributed the pause to the emergence of other priorities for the American side.