US President Donald Trump characterized the war in Ukraine as a “mess” and said “we’re trying to get that settled” as his delegation met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow.
Speaking to reporters before a cabinet meeting in Washington, Trump called the war “not an easy situation,” adding: “We’re trying to get that settled. I’ve settled eight wars. This would be the ninth, and our people are over in Russia right now to see if we can get it settled.”
He also asserted that the United States is “not involved in the war monetarily anymore,” citing the fact that military equipment is now sold to NATO allies before it is transferred to Ukraine.
Trump returned to familiar criticism of the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, saying that the former president had distributed military and financial aid “like it was candy” while promoting his own efforts to bring the invasion to a close.
The US president’s remarks came as Russian state news agencies posted videos of Putin opening talks in the Kremlin with roving US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The two were joined by interpreters and Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s veteran foreign policy advisor, in an ornate Kremlin chamber.
Putin greeted Witkoff warmly, telling him he was “so pleased” to see him and asking about the stroll he had taken through Moscow prior to the meeting.
“Yes, it’s a magnificent city,” Witkoff could be heard saying to Putin, as the Russian president thanked him.
State media, ahead of the meeting, sought to underline Witkoff’s rapport with Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s economic envoy and a prominent figure in US-Russia negotiations. Videos circulated on Telegram showed Dmitriev and Witkoff leaving a Michelin-starred restaurant and walking through the center of the capital toward the Red Square.
Shortly before receiving the delegation, Putin addressed an investment forum hosted by VTB Bank, assuring financiers that the Russian economy is coping successfully with “external pressure” and citing the “moderate deficit” in the newly approved federal budget.
He said that inflation in Russia would be brought down before the end of the year and boasted that unemployment remained at record lows.
In less temperate remarks after the forum, Putin reiterated his disputed claim that Russian forces had captured the Ukrainian frontline stronghold of Pokrovsk and threatened to cut off Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea following recent strikes on Russian oil tankers, which Ukraine has denied responsibility for.
The Russian president also claimed that Russia would be “ready” for war with Europe, though he denied Moscow had any intention of starting one.
“We’re not going to war with Europe; I’ve said that a hundred times. But if Europe suddenly decides to fight and starts, we’re ready right now,” Putin ranted. “If Europe starts, we could quickly find ourselves in a situation where we have no one to negotiate with.”
Ukraine also issued remarks as negotiations got underway, with Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha writing a rebuttal of Putin’s earlier remarks to press on social media.
“For the second day in a row, Putin makes statements that demonstrate that he does not plan to end the war,” Sybiha wrote on X.
“Russia must end the bloodshed it has started. If this doesn’t happen and Putin just spits into the world’s face once again, there must be consequences,” he continued.
“Russia must stop wasting the world’s time, which must be the time for peace,” he added.