Gofrixty [16 August 2025] – In a statement at the end of talks with Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump said only Volodymyr Zelenskiy can decide what direction Ukraine should follow. Trump addressed reporters and said he will not tell Ukraine what to do. He called on Ukraine’s president to weigh the costs and benefits of talking to Russia.
Trump said the meeting with Putin went “direct,” “very good,” and was “practical. He said the talks addressed the war, sanctions and Eastern Europe’s humanitarian crisis. He argued that every side wants de-escalation, but he stressed out that it is up to Ukraine how its political and territorial future will look like.
He went on to add that his administration wants Ukraine to be able to negotiate and do so from a position of power. It cites ongoing US military support, economic assistance and diplomatic pressure on Moscow. Yet he reiterated that US will not dictate a solution.
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But now Zelenskiy needs to find a delicate balance. He is also bound to see what a disaster the fighting has become. Citizens are calling for peace, but they demand national preservation of the nation. Trump acknowledged this fact, and said that he respects Zelenskiy as a leader.
Putin, Trump explained, indicated he was willing to consider the idea but even so defended Russia’s strategic interests. Some observers commented on a less confrontational tone during the summit than at other recent meetings. Trump presented it as baby step forward, echoing a Tom Friedman line from around the same time.
The remark set off a heated dispute in both Washington and Kyiv. Ukrainian officials praised Trump for recognizing Ukraine’s sovereignty, but others argued did the new approach might pressure Kyiv into concessions. The current subject remains Zelenskiy — a man who still has to navigate Ukraine’s course through the storm from millions of frustrated Ukrainians and those w to come up with the full weight of global powers scrutinizing his every move.
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