President Donald Trump has made world peace one of his administration’s top priorities since taking office in January.
The president has ended multiple conflicts across the globe and has strenuously worked to try and mediate the Russia-Ukraine war, but has been unsuccessful as of this writing.
Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 in Anchorage, Alaska, to speak about the Kremlin’s ongoing war with Ukraine. Such discussions initially appeared to be productive, but ultimately went nowhere.
Trump didn’t stop there.
The president later had other conversations with Putin and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House on various occasions.
On Tuesday, Trump spoke to reporters on Air Force One and revealed that Russia and Ukraine are “making progress” toward a peace agreement. He did stress, however, that the conflict was “difficult” to solve.
“We’re having good talks,” Trump said. “Ukraine is doing well. I think they’re pretty happy about it. I’d like to see it end, and we won’t know for a little while. Well, we’re making progress.”
“We settled eight wars, and I thought this would be one of the easier ones because of my relationship with President Putin, but this is probably one of the more difficult ones. There’s a lot of hatred,” he went on.
It has been revealed that Putin called Trump this week to try to divert Trump from arming Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles that could prove deadly to the Kremlin, or, at the very least, disastrous.
Following the call, the U.S. announced that it would not arm Ukraine, demonstrating that the White House is focused on ending the war, not prolonging it.
As the Daily Mail pointed out, if Ukraine received the missiles, the country would be able to demolish Russia’s infrastructure, including airbases, command centers and ammunition depots.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, reportedly contacted Putin’s top foreign policy aide, Yuri Ushakov, to set up a call between the U.S. president and the Kremlin leader.
‘Zelensky is coming to the White House on Friday,” Witkoff told Ushakov. “I think if possible, we have the call with your boss before that Friday meeting.”
Witkoff’s call with Ushakov came before Zelensky’s White House visit on Oct. 19.
On Oct. 17, Trump spoke with Putin. The Russian president warned that arming Ukraine with Tomahawk missiles would lead to an escalation in U.S.-Russia relations. Thus, Trump canceled the missile package.
Trump addressed backlash and allegations of catering to Russia while aboard Air Force One. The president defended Whitkoff and said that his actions represent those of a “dealmaker.” He dismissed concerns of his envoy being heavily pro-Russia.
“No. Look, I think this war could go on for years and Russia has got a lot more people. A lot more soldiers, you know? I think if Ukraine can make a deal, it’s a good thing,” Trump said.
