Ukraine war briefing: Putin ‘destroying Russia’ and has to make a deal, says Trump
Vladimir Putin is “destroying Russia” by not making a deal to end the war with Ukraine, Donald Trump said after his inauguration on Monday as US president for the second time. “He should make a deal … I think Russia’s going to be in big trouble,” said Trump, claiming he was preparing to meet Putin. “He can’t be thrilled, he’s not doing so well. I mean, he’s grinding it out, but most people thought that war would have been over in about one week, and now you’re into three years, right? … [Ukrainian president] Zelenskyy wants to make a deal.”
For his part, the Russian president greeted Trump’s inauguration by sending his congratulations and saying he was open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukraine war. “I want to emphasise that its goal should not be a brief truce … but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” Putin said.
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, warned that Russia’s war against Ukraine would not end “tomorrow or the day after” as Donald Trump, who pledged to quickly wind up the conflict, returned to the White House. Trump promised over the summer to end Russia’s war against Ukraine “in 24 hours”, although he did not explain how he planned to do that. “Let us not delude ourselves,” Macron said in his new year’s address to the French armed forces. “This conflict will not end tomorrow or the day after.” The third anniversary of Russia’s war against Ukraine approaches next month, and Trump’s administration has more recently been suggesting a timeline of several months to end it.
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Source: AP and Reuters
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