Trump Presses Zelenskyy For Peace Deal, Says Putin Is More Willing To Negotiate

US President Donald Trump has urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to pursue a peace deal with Russia, claiming that Russian President Vladimir Putin is more willing to negotiate an end to the war. Trump also discussed the possibility of restricting US oil and diesel supplies, warning that such a move could have far-reaching consequences for global markets.

“I think what's happening is he (Russian President Putin) wants to make a deal, and we have to get Zelenskyy to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think they're going to make a deal. I think actually Putin wants to make a deal more than Zelenskyy.”

Trump's remarks reflect Washington's continued push for negotiations to end the conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. However, the terms of a potential settlement and the willingness of both sides to compromise remain major challenges.

“Zelenskyy has to focus on making the deal, not talking about that,” Trump said, urging the Ukrainian president to concentrate on negotiations.

Any agreement would have to address key disagreements, including the future of occupied Ukrainian territory and the security arrangements required after a ceasefire. The war has caused extensive destruction, displaced millions of people and triggered wider economic consequences through energy markets, trade and defence spending.

Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the conflict and sought to position the United States as a central player in efforts to broker a settlement. However, his assessment that Putin is more willing to negotiate does not establish whether either leader is prepared to accept a final agreement.

Trump also raised the possibility of restricting American oil and diesel supplies, arguing that such measures could significantly affect other countries.

“We make a lot of oil. We could impose a restriction on oil, but the rest of the world would be greatly affected if we did that,” he said.

The US president added that Washington could cap diesel supplies and retain more fuel for domestic consumption. “It's not really a deal for me; it's a deal for the rest of the world,” he said, referring to the wider implications of such restrictions.

Trump also expressed support for measures that could benefit American farmers and ranchers, linking his remarks to the interests of domestic producers.

However, he did not announce any specific restrictions on oil or diesel exports in the remarks cited. His comments raise questions about how Washington might use America's position as a major energy producer to advance its economic and foreign policy objectives.