US President Donald Trump has said he finds it “more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine” than with Russia in ongoing efforts to broker a peace deal between the two nations. His remarks come amid heightened tensions between Washington and Kyiv, following a public clash between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Trump stated that the US was “doing very well with Russia” and suggested it might be easier dealing with Moscow than with Kyiv. This comes just a week after he criticized Zelensky for being “disrespectful” towards the US during a heated White House exchange.
Despite Trump’s remarks, his foreign policy team has attempted to strike a more conciliatory tone towards Ukraine. However, the administration has taken significant actions that have impacted Kyiv’s defense capabilities. The US recently suspended Ukraine’s access to high-quality satellite imagery, a crucial tool for intelligence gathering in wartime. Space technology firm Maxar confirmed the suspension, citing a directive from the US government.
The move follows Trump’s decision to halt military and intelligence support to Ukraine, a significant shift in US policy that has raised concerns among NATO allies. In response, Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Thursday, further escalating the conflict.
Trump has indicated that he is “strongly considering” imposing new sanctions and tariffs on Russia unless a ceasefire is reached. However, he also suggested that Russian President Vladimir Putin was acting within reason. “I think he’s hitting them [Ukraine] harder than he’s been hitting them,” Trump said. “And I think probably anyone in that position would be doing that right now.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s senior officials are set to meet Zelensky’s team in Saudi Arabia next week, amid growing pressure for Ukraine to agree to Trump’s terms. The US is reportedly seeking a major stake in Ukrainian mineral resources in exchange for continued support, while Zelensky has pushed for firm security guarantees.
As European nations rally support for Ukraine, the international community watches closely to see whether Ukraine will yield to Trump’s demands or whether Washington’s stance will further strain relations with Kyiv.
