Trump Calls Putin’s Ceasefire Statement ‘Promising but Not Complete’

US President Donald Trump met with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House today, where discussions focused on the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia. Speaking to reporters inside the Oval Office, Trump emphasized his desire for a swift resolution to the conflict.

"We will be discussing what's going on between Ukraine and Russia," Trump said at the start of the meeting. "We want it to stop."

Trump Says He Would ‘Love’ to Meet Putin

During the meeting, Trump expressed a willingness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate an end to the war, as per a report from The Guardian.

"But we have to get it over with fast," Trump added. 

Trump also addressed Russia’s latest remarks on the ceasefire, calling Putin’s recent statement “very promising but not complete.” He added that he remained hopeful Russia would take the right steps toward peace.

"Hopefully, Russia will do the right thing," he said.

A look at Trump's complete statement

"Well, we’d like to see a cease fire from Russia. And we have, you know, not been working in the dark.

We’ve been discussing … Ukraine land and pieces of land that would be kept and lost, and all of the other elements of a final agreement. There’s a power plant involved. You know, very big power plant involved. Who’s going to get the power plant and who’s going to get this and that?

And so, you know, it’s, it’s not an easy process. But phase 1 is the ceasefire.

We’ve been discussing concepts of land because you don’t want to waste time with the ceasefire, if, it’s not going to mean anything. So we’re saying: look, this is what you can get, this is what you can’t get.

They discuss Nato, and being in Nato, and everybody knows what the answer to that is, it. Know that answer for 40 years, in all fairness.

So a lot of the details of a final agreement have actually been discussed. Now we’re going to see whether or not Russia is there, and if they’re not, it’ll be a very disappointing moment for the world," Trump said. 

Concerns Over NATO and European Security

Trump reiterated his long-standing concerns over the fairness of trans-Atlantic security arrangements, arguing that the US was bearing an unfair share of the burden compared to European nations.

"We're on the other side of the ocean," he said. "And they're right there."

Despite his concerns, Trump reassured allies that Russia would not pose a direct threat to NATO members.

"It’s not going to happen, we’ll make sure it doesn’t happen,” Trump said.