In this photo provided by the presidential press office of Ukraine, the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the right, and President Donald Trump, speak while attending the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican, on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
Ukrainian presidential press office through AP
The president of the United States, Donald Trump, raised on Saturday the possibility of stronger sanctions on Moscow and questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “stop war” against Ukraine.
The publication of Trump’s social networks about Putin occurred just after he and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met in Rome for their first session in person from a situation of the Oval office that became a match of shouts. They met just before the funeral of Pope Francis.
“There was no reason for Putin to shoot missiles in civil areas, cities and towns, in recent days,” Trump wrote in Truth Social. Vice President JD Vance published Trump’s statement in his X account.
“It makes me think that maybe I don’t want to stop war, you are simply taking advantage of me and have to be treated differently, through” banking “or” secondary sanctions? “Too many people dying!” Trump said.
The White House said Trump and Zelenskyy “had a very productive discussion,” but did not include additional details about what was discussed.
Zelensky said it was a “good meeting”, added: “Very symbolic meeting that has the potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.”
Trump’s comments occur as the pressure increases so that the two countries reach a peace agreement. Earlier this week, Trump presented to the two countries an offer to end the war. According to reports, the agreement included, in part, the recognition of Crimea under Russian control, which Zelenskyy has repeatedly said is a red line.
In his social post on Saturday, Trump said Russia stole Crimea from Ukraine, a rare recognition of the president of the United States that Russia illegally annexed the region.
Trump pointed to the former president of the United States, Barack Obama, and suggested that “it made it possible for Russia to rob Ukraine without even shot.”
Trump told Time earlier this month that “Crimea will stay with Russia,” and added: “Zelenskyy understands, and everyone understands that he has been with them for a long time. He has been with them long before Trump appears.”
After his comments, Zelenskyy reiterated that Crimea belongs to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Trump said Friday that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to an agreement, and the two parties should now meet, at very high levels, to” finish it. “”
He wrote in Truth Social that “most of the main points are agreed.”
