President Trump mentioned Thursday he noticed “good indicators” towards finalizing a 30-day cease-fire settlement between Russia and Ukraine, as U.S. officers visiting Moscow had been anticipated to fulfill with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.
The remarks, delivered within the Oval Workplace whereas assembly with NATO Secretary Common Mark Rutte, got here as Mr. Putin made clear he was in no hurry for a cease-fire, laying out quite a few situations earlier than he may conform to a truce.
“It doesn’t imply something till we hear what the ultimate end result is, however they’ve very critical discussions occurring proper now with President Putin and others, and hopefully all of them need to finish this nightmare,” Mr. Trump mentioned of the conferences his Center East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was having in Russia. “It’s a nightmare. It’s a horrible factor.”
Mr. Trump mentioned he hoped to talk to Mr. Putin quickly. He additionally mentioned the U.S. had mentioned with Ukraine doable concessions as a part of a peace settlement.
“We’ve been discussing with Ukraine land and items of land that might be stored and misplaced, and all the different parts of a ultimate settlement,” Mr. Trump mentioned.
He added: “A variety of the small print of a ultimate settlement have truly been mentioned.”
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine struck a pessimistic tone in his night tackle to Ukrainians on Thursday. Mr. Putin’s response to the cease-fire proposal, he mentioned, was “very predictable.” Mr. Putin, he mentioned, set so many preconditions “that nothing will work out in any respect, or that it’s going to not work out for so long as doable.”
Regardless of Mr. Trump’s years of complaints about NATO, a corporation from which he has repeatedly threatened to withdraw, the assembly with Mr. Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, proceeded amicably as the 2 leaders mentioned areas of cooperation.
Mr. Trump recommended Mr. Rutte for “doing a incredible job” whereas Mr. Rutte heaped reward on Mr. Trump, crediting him with revitalizing the group by pushing international locations to contribute extra navy spending.
“I actually need to work along with you within the run-up to The Hague summit to ensure that we can have a NATO which is absolutely reinvigorated beneath your management, and we’re getting there,” Mr. Rutte mentioned, referencing this summer time’s assembly within the Netherlands.
Many American presidents have complained that different European allies don’t spend sufficient on protection, relying as a substitute on American safety, however Mr. Trump has escalated the rhetoric to a brand new degree, suggesting the U.S. might not fulfill its mutual protection dedication for international locations that haven’t contributed sufficient.
Mr. Trump’s extra conciliatory strategy to Russia and his sweeping tariffs on the European Union have additionally divided the alliance and its member states, a few of that are beginning to discover a future that doesn’t rely so closely on the USA.
Mr. Rutte, in search of to keep away from the sort of confrontation that blew up Mr. Trump’s assembly with Mr. Zelensky in early March, complimented the U.S. president and tried to steer away from battle — at the least in entrance of reports cameras.
When Mr. Trump was requested about his efforts to annex Greenland — a territory managed by Denmark, a NATO member — the president famous that Mr. Rutte “might be instrumental” in making that occur.
“Now we have to do it,” he mentioned. “We actually want it for nationwide safety.”
Mr. Rutte deflected the query of the USA taking Greenland, saying he didn’t need to “drag NATO into that.” As an alternative, he pivoted to agreeing with Mr. Trump that Russia and China posed threats to the Arctic area.
Marc Santora in Kyiv and Luke Broadwater in Washington contributed reporting.
