**US President Trump Still Believes in a Deal with Putin, Warns of Sanctions if Talks Fail**
In a recent interview with Fox News, US President Donald Trump expressed his continued optimism about the possibility of striking a deal between Russia and Ukraine to end the ongoing war. However, he also warned that if negotiations fail, his administration will move forward with imposing sanctions on Moscow.
Trump’s comments come at a time when peace talks in Istanbul have ended without any breakthrough, with Russia reiterating its demands for Ukraine to adopt neutral status, drop claims for war reparations, and recognize Russia’s loss of Crimea and four occupied regions. European leaders, who have been working closely with Washington to pressure the Kremlin, were left frustrated by Russia’s posture and confused by Trump’s shifting signals in recent weeks.
**A Shift in Tone**
While the US and Europe had appeared united in pushing for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, Trump has since emphasized the need for direct engagement with Putin. His tone has shifted from being critical of Russia’s actions to expressing his confidence in Putin’s willingness to negotiate. “Putin is at the table,” Trump said, despite not being physically present during the talks.
However, Ukraine continues to insist on a ceasefire, supported by the US and Europe, saying that a halt to active warfare must come before any real peace talks are possible. Russia has so far rejected a truce four times, including the most recent one in Istanbul.
**Ukrainian President Zelensky Takes the Blame**
In his interview with Fox News, Trump surprisingly pointed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as the main obstacle to peace, rather than Putin. He claimed that he had a “really rough session” with Zelensky, who he said didn’t make it easy for him and was not prepared to negotiate.
However, this assessment is at odds with the views of many experts and leaders in the region, who believe that Russia’s actions are the main barrier to peace. Ukraine continues to insist on a ceasefire as a necessary step towards any real peace talks.
**Sanctions and Economic Pressure**
Trump warned that if negotiations fail, his administration will move forward with imposing sanctions on Moscow, citing Russia’s economic struggles due to low oil prices. He said, “This would be crushing for Russia because they’re having a hard time now with the economy.”
However, it remains to be seen whether these economic pressures and threats of sanctions will be enough to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
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