Trump Claims Russia Holds the Upper Hand in Ukraine Peace Talks

In a recent interview with the BBC, Donald Trump asserted that Russia "have the cards" in peace discussions aimed at resolving the nearly three-year-long war in Ukraine. The former president, while en route back to Washington DC after a speaking engagement in Florida, emphasized his belief that Moscow desires an end to the hostilities, given the significant territory it has seized since the invasion began. Trump’s comments come as he continues to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, labeling him a "dictator" in two separate instances during the same day.

Trump's remarks were in response to Zelensky's critique regarding the exclusion of Ukraine from US-Russia talks held in Saudi Arabia. Trump expressed confidence that Russia aims for peace and suggested that they currently hold a stronger negotiating position. He questioned Zelensky’s leadership, citing low approval ratings and the suspension of elections under martial law, while juxtaposing this with a polling report showing that a majority of Ukrainians still trust their president. This has led to backlash from various European leaders who defended Zelensky's democratic legitimacy. Meanwhile, Zelensky addressed Trump’s comments with a rebuttal, stressing the importance of accurate information about the conflict.