Trump Attacks Zelensky and Reveals Reason for Exempting Russia from Sanctions

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war with Russia that has been ongoing for more than four years.

Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform that he had been working to negotiate peace between Russia and Ukraine and was making "great progress," but claimed: "Zelensky doesn't care, and frankly, with all the money Europe is giving him as is known... he does not want to end this war, and probably never wanted to."

Regarding his decision to exempt Russian exports from sanctions and tariffs, he said it represents an attempt to keep Russia at the negotiating table.

He added: "My decision regarding Russia is very simple. I am negotiating for peace in the war raging between Russia and Ukraine, and I do not want to do anything that would push Russia, foolishly, away from the negotiating table."

Growing Disagreement
The growing rift between Trump and Zelensky last week raised fears that their turbulent relationship could lead to worse outcomes for Kyiv. Zelensky expressed hope to NBC that Trump would remain an ally of Ukraine.

Zelensky said, "We want to trust him, and I hope he will reverse his decisions... because I see them all as wrong and they will not help us. They will not benefit the United States either."

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC in an interview that Ukraine receives US aid that Russia does not, citing intelligence sharing and supplying other countries with US munitions to be resold to Ukraine.

Is Ukraine a US Ally?
However, Bessent did not give a direct answer when repeatedly asked whether the US considers Ukraine an ally during remarks on Meet the Press, which aired after the interview with Zelensky.

Bessent said, "Zelensky presents a false narrative this morning suggesting that the only acceptable option for Ukraine is victory... The war must end, and this will happen through some kind of negotiated settlement."