June 25 – U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. Speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague, Trump also said he would consider supplying Ukraine with additional U.S.-made Patriot missile systems to defend against intensifying Russian attacks.
“Vladimir Putin must truly end this war,” Trump said during a press conference, adding that he intends to engage in further dialogue with the Russian leader in hopes of resolving the conflict—though he did not specify when such talks might take place.
Trump’s remarks followed a 50-minute meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which both leaders described as a positive and constructive step forward.
When asked why the conflict had not yet been resolved, Trump replied, “Because this war is harder than people think,” describing Putin as a “tougher” opponent, while also acknowledging previous tensions with Zelensky. “I’ve had some issues with President Zelensky—some of you may know that,” he said, alluding to a contentious meeting between the two leaders at the White House earlier this year.
Trump acknowledged the Patriot missile systems are “very difficult to supply” due to U.S. military needs but noted that Washington would assess whether it can spare some for Ukraine. He also left the door open for additional military aid, especially as Russia has made significant gains on the battlefield in recent months.
Previously, Trump had shown little indication of continuing military aid to Ukraine, a sharp contrast to the approach of his predecessor, President Joe Biden, who approved large-scale arms packages following Russia’s 2022 invasion.
When pressed on whether the U.S. would contribute to the $5 billion military aid package recently pledged by other NATO members, Trump reiterated that “this war must end,” sidestepping a direct commitment.
Patriot missile systems have played a critical role in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles targeting Ukrainian cities in recent weeks. Ahead of the meeting with Trump, President Zelensky said Ukraine is willing to purchase more Patriot systems if the U.S. is unwilling to donate them.
“Ukraine is ready to buy this equipment and support American defense manufacturers,” Zelensky stated. “We also discussed the potential for co-producing drones—we can strengthen each other.”
Since taking office in January, Trump has repeatedly called for negotiations to resolve the war in Ukraine. Earlier this week, he expressed hope for reaching a “deal with Russia” to bring the conflict to an end.
Moscow has maintained it is open to negotiations “without preconditions” but insists that any long-term peace agreement must reflect the realities on the ground and guarantee Ukraine’s neutrality.
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Source: Vietnam Insider