Foto: BB.LV / Дональд Трамп
Trump discussed this in an interview with journalist Ross Douthat on the CBS program "60 Minutes". When asked if he expects the war to end while maintaining a free and independent Ukraine, the American president answered affirmatively but added that ultimately Ukraine will have "somewhat different outlines." He did not specify what changes he meant or under what conditions an agreement could be reached. "I believe we are very close to making a deal," he stated. Trump also mentioned an important meeting that, according to him, is set to begin on Saturday and continue on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. He did not disclose the participants or the agenda of the negotiations in his response. "I believe this war will end, and it will end soon. And the only reason it will end is me," said the U.S. president. ### Hatred and the Question of Trust Trump identified the relationship between the Russian and Ukrainian presidents as the main obstacle to achieving peace. "There is tremendous hatred between President Putin and President Zelensky," he stated. Douthat countered that Zelensky's position is understandable since his country has been invaded. Trump agreed but added that during the first meeting of the two leaders, Russia allegedly showed "tremendous disrespect." When asked whom he trusts more—Putin or Zelensky—Trump declined to answer, stating that he gets along with both. However, when asked if he thinks Putin is lying to him, he replied, "I don’t think so." ### U.S. Weapons Paid for by Europe Trump rejected the journalist's suggestion that Washington is easing pressure on Moscow. He stated that no one has taken a tougher stance against Russia than he has and reminded of the supply of American anti-tank missiles to Ukraine. Discussing current military support for Kyiv, the president emphasized that the U.S. continues to supply weapons, but they are paid for by European countries. "I give it to Europe, sell it at full price, and they pay us," Trump said. He also praised the determination of Ukrainian soldiers to use the weapons received, noting that it takes courage. When the journalist suggested that the result of American assistance has been the preservation of Ukraine's independence, Trump replied that the final outcome is yet to be seen. ### Who is Responsible for Starlink Operations A separate part of the conversation concerned the Starlink satellite communication system used by Ukrainian military forces. Douthat asked about a case of reduced network speed and who controls its operation in the combat zone—the U.S. president or Elon Musk. Trump stated that he did not make the decision to slow down the communication. However, he could not name the responsible party and said he had not been presented with evidence of intentional limitations on the system's operation. According to the president, the situation was quickly resolved. He also suggested that if necessary, he could use his authority to intervene in the system's operations.
