Donald Trump has refused to directly accuse Vladimir Putin of launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, saying public criticism of the Russian leader could make diplomatic efforts harder.
Speaking during a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the US president was asked whether he believed Putin carried the greatest responsibility for the war.
Trump avoided a direct response, saying: “I don’t want to comment on that because I’m trying to get it settled and that doesn’t make it easy.”
The remarks came as Trump insisted his priority remained ending the conflict quickly and securing a negotiated settlement between Kyiv and Moscow.
The US president said he had held what he described as constructive conversations with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but admitted the process had proved more difficult than expected.
“I ended eight wars and, to be honest with you, I thought this would have been one of the easier ones,” Trump said, adding that the relationship between the two leaders had made negotiations more complicated.
He said: “I ended eight wars and, to be honest with you, I thought this would have been one of the easier ones, but they’re (the presidents – ed.) not liking each other too much, and it makes it much more difficult.
“But we’re working. I had two good conversations with President Zelenskyy and with President Putin.”
At the G7 summit in France, Trump also acknowledged that Putin was now in a weaker position than earlier in the war, prompting some European leaders to suggest there could be an opportunity for renewed diplomacy.
Behind the scenes, Trump has reportedly urged allies to support further pressure on Moscow while also linking wider geopolitical issues, including security concerns around Iran.
A meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz saw Kyiv and Berlin stress that any negotiations must begin from a position of strength and respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
The diplomatic push comes as world leaders weigh whether the current battlefield situation could create an opening for talks — while Ukraine insists any peace agreement must be based on international law rather than concessions to Russian aggression.
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