President Trump reportedly said that his hasty efforts to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine had encountered a roadblock, noting that Russia seems to be dragging its feet in the U.S.-mediated talks as it strives for more Western concessions.
Trump’s remarks followed the White House’s announcement of a cease-fire agreement in the Black Sea. Russia immediately requested more actions from the West over the lifting of sanctions before agreeing to the truce.
Trump suggested the Kremlin may be “dragging its feet” when asked about Moscow’s tardiness, and he likened the strategy to his own previous strategies in real estate deals.
“I’ve done it over the years. You know, I don’t want to sign a contract. I want to sort of stay in the game, but maybe I don’t want to do it quite—I’m not sure,” Trump said.
Trump has claimed that his skill at business negotiations could be successfully applied on the global stage. His first book was titled “The Art of the Deal.”
But Russian leader Vladimir Putin is Trump’s shrewd and experienced adversary in his desperate attempt to put a stop to the bloody, three-year conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In order to stop the war, Putin has made it clear that he expects significant concessions, which Ukraine and its European allies find untenable.
These include denying Ukraine membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, ceding large portions of Ukrainian land to Russia, and making sure that any remaining Ukraine cannot re-arm with assistance from the West.
Additionally, Russia has replied to the Trump administration’s calls for a more limited cease-fire as a first step toward peace by proposing tentative terms for a truce that mirror long-standing demands from the Kremlin.
[READ MORE: Trump Admin Agrees to Help Russia Boost Exports in Wake of Truce Agreement]
