Synopsis
US President Donald Trump has urged for prompt negotiations with Vladimir Putin to end the ongoing war in Ukraine, highlighting the catastrophic loss of life and emphasizing the need for dialogue to resolve the conflict.Key Takeaways
- Trump calls for immediate talks with Putin.
- Highlights the urgent need to end the war.
- Estimates millions of lives lost since the conflict began.
- Criticizes the ongoing violence and casualties.
- Seeks assistance from Xi Jinping to broker peace.
Washington, Jan 24 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump stated to the media that Russia "should seek to negotiate a settlement" with Ukraine to bring an end to the "terrible war" and highlighted his readiness to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin without delay.
"I believe Russia should want to reach an agreement. Perhaps they do want to make a deal. From what I hear, Putin would like to see me. We should meet as soon as possible. Every day we delay, more soldiers are dying on the battlefield," Trump remarked during a signing event in the Oval Office.
Trump characterized the ongoing conflict as one of the deadliest since World War II, stressing that countless lives have been lost in combat and on farms, with many soldiers perishing.
While addressing the World Economic Forum (WEF) virtually, Trump mentioned, "Our initiatives to achieve a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine are hopefully in progress. It is crucial to finalize this, as millions of soldiers are dying. Nothing like this has been witnessed since World War II. They are lying dead across the fields... It's time to put a stop to it."
He continued, "I sincerely hope to meet with President Putin soon to conclude this war. My motivation is not economic; it's about the millions of lives being squandered. Beautiful, young individuals are being shot in combat. I have seen images of the devastation, and it is horrific. We absolutely need to halt this conflict; it is dreadful."
When questioned if Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is receptive to negotiations, Trump replied: "He has lost many soldiers, as has Russia," before adding, "However, Russia has suffered more losses."
Earlier this week, Trump announced on Truth Social that he would impose substantial tariffs and additional sanctions on Russia if Putin does not end the war in Ukraine.
On Thursday, Trump stated that peace initiatives between Russia and Ukraine are "hopefully" progressing while he spoke virtually at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
"Securing a peace settlement is very important," Trump added.
"This has become an absolute killing field. Millions of soldiers are dying."
As the Russia-Ukraine conflict enters its fourth year, Western officials estimate Russia's gradual advancements along the frontline cause approximately 1,500 deaths and injuries daily, nearing 700,000 total casualties, according to the UK Defence Ministry. US officials estimated around a year ago that roughly 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, with nearly double that number injured.
Trump's comments came despite his earlier promise to conclude the war on his first day in office.
Although he missed that timeline, reports indicated that the US President is working to arrange a call with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a possible in-person meeting.
He reiterated his intention to meet President Putin on Thursday: "I genuinely wish to meet with President Putin soon to resolve this war."
Trump also expressed criticism of Putin during a Monday Oval Office meeting, stating that the Russian leader is "not performing well." This was a shift from Trump's usual positive remarks regarding the Russian leader.
He further mentioned that he believes Ukraine "is prepared to negotiate a deal."
The US President stated he would seek assistance from Chinese President Xi Jinping to facilitate peace in Ukraine.
