US President Donald Trump on Sunday accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of not wanting to end the war with Russia, which has been ongoing for more than four years.
اضافة اعلان
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “My decision on Russia is very simple. I am in the midst of negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and I do not want to foolishly do anything that could push Russia away from the negotiating table.”
The remarks came after Trump on Friday signed an executive order lifting broad new sanctions that had been included in legislation named after the late US Senator Lindsey Graham, who was one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters.
Trump also temporarily suspended sanctions on Russian diesel, allowing large quantities to flow into global markets in an effort to lower fuel prices ahead of the midterm elections scheduled for early next month.
The diesel deal was met with shock in Kyiv and among its allies, triggering a dispute between Trump and Zelensky and further straining their already volatile relationship.
“Significant progress is being made in the talks concerning the war, including negotiations over the hostages!” Trump said.
“Signing that document at this time would lead to that, and I can sign it later, or whenever I want!” he added, without specifying which document he was referring to.
Trump continued: “Perhaps most importantly, Russia is providing very little, if anything, to help Iran, compared with what it could provide. I want to keep it that way, and I will make sure it stays that way unless some stupid people interfere and prevent it.”
Trump then repeated his accusation that Ukraine was deliberately targeting Russian oil refineries in an attempt to hurt the Republican Party in the November 3 elections.
Opinion polls suggest Trump’s party is likely to suffer a defeat in the elections, amid widespread voter dissatisfaction over fuel prices, which have risen sharply since the war in Iran began in late February.
“Zelensky is using Russia’s diesel refineries as targets, and he knows these attacks are doing tremendous damage to global diesel markets, including those in the United States,” Trump said.
“Zelensky doesn’t care, and frankly, with all the money Europe is giving him and what the deceitful Joe Biden gave him in the past, he does not want to end this war, and probably never did,” Trump added.
