UPDATE - Trump suggests someone other than Zelenskyy should negotiate for Ukraine
- US president criticizes Ukrainian leader's handling of war, says he would consider meeting Putin, Xi to discuss Ukraine without Zelenskyy present
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- US president criticizes Ukrainian leader's handling of war, says he would consider meeting Putin, Xi to discuss Ukraine without Zelenskyy present
ADDS BACKGROUND; EDITS THROUGHOUT
By Rabia Iclal Turan
WASHINGTON (AA) - US President Donald Trump said Monday that it may be time for someone other than Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to negotiate on Kyiv's behalf.
"Zelenskyy doesn't know what he's talking about. Zelenskyy is a man that should have had this war settled a long time ago. If he would have listened to me, he would have made a much better deal a long time ago," Trump told reporters before departing the White House to campaign for the Nov. 3 midterm congressional elections in the state of Kansas.
"I think it's time for somebody else to negotiate on behalf of Ukraine because what's happened? A tremendous number of people are dead. They're losing their male population," he said.
"Maybe it's time for Zelenskyy to get somebody else to negotiate," Trump added.
"Zelenskyy is not helping matters much. I think he doesn't want to stop it, but I want to see people not die."
"We've given a lot to Ukraine. They've given us nothing," he added.
- Possible talks with Putin, Xi on Ukraine
Asked whether he had agreed to a trilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping on Ukraine, Trump said he had not but was open to such talks.
"No, but I would do it. Not so much for Ukraine because Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine," he said.
Trump indicated that nuclear disarmament would be a priority in any such meeting.
"We would have it to talk about nuclear weapons and denuclearization," he said.
"We have more nuclear weapons than anybody. Russia is second, China is third, but catching up. China was way behind, and now they're catching up. It'll take about probably five years," Trump added.
Asked whether he would meet Putin and Xi to discuss ending the war without Zelenskyy present, Trump said he would do "anything I can do to end the war, whether somebody's there or not."
The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday that Putin had proposed a trilateral meeting next month with US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss the war in Ukraine and seek an end to the conflict on terms favorable to Moscow.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Journal that discussions were underway but there was no clear understanding yet on the meeting or its agenda, though all three sides acknowledged the “hypothetical possibility” of such a meeting.
The report came on the heels of Trump announcing a deal to buy Russian diesel fuel and later signing an executive order waiving key sanctions on Moscow, a move Zelenskyy criticized.
"Any easing of sanctions against Russia without a clear and lasting de-escalation agreement with Russia is an obvious weakness," Zelenskyy said.
- Russia, China, and Iran
Trump also said Russia and China had provided limited support to Iran despite their close relations with Tehran.
"Russia could have done a lot more to help Iran. Russia's done very little for Iran. China could have done a lot more for Iran," he said.
"I view that as being a very positive thing," Trump added.
Rabia İclal Turan