Trump suggests someone other than Zelenskyy should negotiate for Ukraine

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.

"Zelensky doesn't know what he's talking about. Zelensky 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.

"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 Zelensky to get somebody else to negotiate," Trump added.

"Zelensky 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

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."

- 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