Trump and Putin call makes little progress
發佈日期: 2025-05-20 20:44
TVB News
U.S. President Donald Trump sounded optimistic about ending the war in Ukraine after a phone call with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, but in reality little has changed.
Putin said there could be a path to peace but offered little about how that may be achieved.
The war continues and Ukraine is accusing Russia of "playing for time."
President Trump at a law enforcement event but the media only wanted to talk about his conversation with Vladimir Putin.
Reporter: "You said last week you thought nothing was going to happen until you and Putin got together. Do you still feel that way?"
Trump says: "I think something's going to happen. Very, very big egos involved, I tell you, big egos involved, but I think something's gonna happen. And if it doesn't, I'd just back away and they're gonna have to keep going."
With suggestions the new American-born Pope Leo XVI could play a role, with peace talks at the Vatican, Trump says there's still a chance: "I believe he (Putin) wants to stop. Look, I would be, I think, very able to tell whether or not he wanted to or would.
I thought there was a very good chance, like a 50-50 chance, that he would say, I want to take the whole thing. I didn't know what he was going to say. And then they have a different kind of a problem."
Russia's president backing up what Trump said. "Russia is ready to work with Urkraine on a possible future treaty as long as the principles are right," Putin said after the two-hour call with Trump.
Putin says talks have continued following a meeting in Istanbul last week, which neither he or Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended.
The Russian leader maintains his "special military operation" is protecting Russians and the Kremlin is against Ukraine joining NATO.
Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov says the "friendly chat" was conducted on a first name basis. Vladimir congratulating Donald on his new grandchild.
The EU says these pleasantries are all well and good but there needs to be progress. EU High Representative says: "America said that if Russian doesn't agree on full and unconditional ceasefire, then there are going to be consequences. So we want to see those consequences also from the U.S. side. We really haven't seen the pressure on Russia."
Zelenskyy responding to the two calls he had with Trump,having told the U.S. "not to make decisions without us." and later accusing Putin of playing for time.
Trump was asked if Zelenskyy wants peace. Trump says "He's a strong person. Zelenskyy is a strong guy, and he's not the easiest person to deal with. But I think that he wants to stop.
