President Trump stated Thursday he noticed “good alerts” towards finalizing a 30-day cease-fire settlement between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S. officers visiting Moscow had been anticipated to satisfy with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
The remarks, delivered within the Oval Workplace whereas assembly with NATO Secretary Normal Mark Rutte, got here as Mr. Putin made clear he was in no hurry for a cease-fire, laying out quite a few situations earlier than he might conform to a truce.
“It doesn’t imply something till we hear what the ultimate consequence is, however they’ve very severe discussions happening proper now with President Putin and others, and hopefully all of them need to finish this nightmare,” Mr. Trump stated of the conferences his Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was having in Russia. “It’s a nightmare. It’s a horrible factor.”
Mr. Trump stated he hoped to talk to Mr. Putin quickly. He additionally stated the U.S. had mentioned with Ukraine attainable concessions as a part of a peace settlement.
“We’ve been discussing with Ukraine land and items of land that might be stored and misplaced, and all the different components of a closing settlement,” Mr. Trump stated.
He added: “Plenty of the main points of a closing settlement have truly been mentioned.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine struck a pessimistic tone in his night deal with to Ukrainians on Thursday. Mr. Putin’s response to the cease-fire proposal, he stated, was “very predictable.” Mr. Putin, he stated, set so many preconditions “that nothing will work out in any respect, or that it’s going to not work out for so long as attainable.”
Regardless of Mr. Trump’s years of complaints about NATO, a corporation from which he has repeatedly threatened to withdraw, the assembly with Mr. Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, proceeded amicably as the 2 leaders mentioned areas of cooperation.
Mr. Trump recommended Mr. Rutte for “doing a unbelievable job” whereas Mr. Rutte heaped reward on Mr. Trump, crediting him with revitalizing the group by pushing nations to contribute extra army spending.
“I actually need to work along with you within the run-up to The Hague summit to ensure that we may have a NATO which is admittedly reinvigorated beneath your management, and we’re getting there,” Mr. Rutte stated, referencing this summer season’s assembly within the Netherlands.
Many American presidents have complained that different European allies don’t spend sufficient on protection, relying as an alternative on American safety, however Mr. Trump has escalated the rhetoric to a brand new degree, suggesting the U.S. might not fulfill its mutual protection dedication for nations that haven’t contributed sufficient.
Mr. Trump’s extra conciliatory method to Russia and his sweeping tariffs on the European Union have additionally divided the alliance and its member states, a few of that are beginning to discover a future that doesn’t rely so closely on the USA.
Mr. Rutte, searching for to keep away from the form of confrontation that blew up Mr. Trump’s assembly with Mr. Zelensky in early March, complimented the U.S. president and tried to steer away from battle — not less than in entrance of stories cameras.
When Mr. Trump was requested about his efforts to annex Greenland — a territory managed by Denmark, a NATO member — the president famous that Mr. Rutte “might be instrumental” in making that occur.
“We’ve to do it,” he stated. “We actually want it for nationwide safety.”
Mr. Rutte deflected the query of the USA taking Greenland, saying he didn’t need to “drag NATO into that.” As a substitute, he pivoted to agreeing with Mr. Trump that Russia and China posed threats to the Arctic area.
Marc Santora in Kyiv and Luke Broadwater in Washington contributed reporting.
