The Atlantic: Trump indicates possible shift toward Ukraine But not Zelenskyy

US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that certain actions by Russian President Vladimir Putin could push him to take Ukraine’s side in the ongoing war, though he remains critical of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In an interview with The Atlantic, editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg asked Trump whether there was anything Putin could do that would make him say, “You know what? I'm on Zelenskyy's side now.”

Trump responded, “Not necessarily on Zelenskyy's side, but on Ukraine's side, yes. Yes. But not necessarily on Zelenskyy's side. I have had hard times with Zelenskyy. You saw that over here when he was sitting right in that chair, when he just couldn’t get it,” referring to Zelenskyy’s February 28 visit to the White House.

Pressed on whether he envisions a scenario in which the US would provide Ukraine with more weapons to support its territorial integrity, Trump offered a broader definition of support: “Doesn’t have to be weapons. There are many forms of weapons. Doesn’t have to be weapons with bullets. It can be weapons with sanctions. It can be weapons with banking. It can be many other weapons.”

The US president also commented on the state of the war, emphasizing that he does not see it as his responsibility. “We'll see what happens over the next week or so. We're already at the finish line. And again – this is Biden's war. I’m not gonna get saddled—I don’t wanna be saddled with it. It’s a terrible war. Should have never happened. It would’ve never happened, as sure as you’re sitting there,” Trump said.

Late last week, Trump criticised Putin for the recent missile strikes on Ukrainian cities, stating that such attacks cast serious doubt on the Kremlin’s commitment to peace efforts.

Vice President J.D. Vance, meanwhile, expressed support for Trump’s approach to ceasefire talks, noting that more diplomatic progress has been achieved in the last three months than in the previous three years. However, he warned against unrealistic expectations. “If the war is not stopped, Ukraine will not win it,” Vance said, adding that assuming Russia will collapse if fighting continues for a few more years is a “dangerous illusion” that could escalate into nuclear conflict.

In a related development, the Kremlin announced plans for a temporary ceasefire from May 8 to 11, in honour of the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy dismissed the gesture as insufficient, arguing that a meaningful ceasefire must be immediate, total, and last at least 30 days to serve as a real foundation for negotiations. He stressed that the US peace proposal remains valid.

By Tamilla Hasanova