Russian President Vladimir Putin Calls for Meeting with Donald Trump to Discuss Ukraine War and Energy Prices
Putin: No Serious Peace Talks Without Ukraine’s Zelenskyy Canceling 2022 Decree
Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss the ongoing Ukraine war and energy prices, which the US President has highlighted as a major issue in his new administration.
In a televised interview, Putin described Trump as "smart and pragmatic" and said he did not expect the US President to make decisions on sanctions that would rebound on the US economy. He expressed his readiness to meet with Trump, citing the need to discuss various issues of mutual interest, including arms control and energy.
However, Putin made it clear that there could be no serious peace talks with Ukraine unless the West leaned on President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to cancel a 2022 decree that bars him from negotiating with the Russian leader. Zelenskyy has rejected Putin’s demands, accusing him of trying to manipulate the US President’s efforts to secure peace.
Sticking Point with Ukraine
The Russian leader identified the Zelenskyy decree as a major sticking point, stating that it would be impossible to hold serious talks with Ukraine as long as the decree remained in place. He urged Western countries providing financial support to Ukraine to pressure Zelenskyy to cancel the decree, claiming that "those who pay the money should force him to do it."
Putin’s Views on Trump and the 2020 US Election
Putin also expressed his support for Trump’s false claim that he, not Joe Biden, was the real winner of the 2020 US presidential election. He praised Trump’s comments about the war in Ukraine, saying that if Trump had been president in 2020, the crisis in Ukraine might not have arisen in 2022.
Conclusion
The proposal for a meeting between Putin and Trump has raised hopes for a potential breakthrough in the long-standing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. However, the Russian leader’s conditions for serious peace talks, including the cancellation of the Zelenskyy decree, remain a major obstacle.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What did Putin propose in his meeting with Trump?
- Putin proposed a meeting with Trump to discuss the Ukraine war and energy prices.
- What is the sticking point with Ukraine?
- The Zelenskyy decree banning talks with Putin is a major sticking point.
- Will the West pressure Zelenskyy to cancel the decree?
- Putin has urged Western countries providing financial support to Ukraine to pressure Zelenskyy to cancel the decree.
- Does Putin support Trump’s claims about the 2020 US election?
- Yes, Putin expressed support for Trump’s false claim that he, not Joe Biden, was the real winner of the 2020 US presidential election.