Trump sees early Ukraine progress, cites Putin-Zelenskyy 'hatred' as obstacle

In remarks from the Oval Office on Monday, President Donald Trump outlined his administration's simultaneous diplomatic engagements across two major global crises, expressing cautious optimism on one front while acknowledging significant hurdles. He confirmed that progress is being made toward ending the war in Ukraine, stating, "I think we're doing very well with Ukraine and Russia. For the first time, I'm saying that." Concurrently, his administration is preparing for critical talks with Iran, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape his foreign policy team is navigating.

A dual-track diplomatic agenda: Ukraine and Iran

President Trump framed his administration as actively managing multiple international conflicts that predated his term. He noted the upcoming meeting in Istanbul between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, scheduled for Friday, as a key component of efforts to de-escalate tensions with Tehran. "You have Iran, and you have Russia, Ukraine, and you have the Middle East. We have a lot of things going," Trump stated, emphasizing the breadth of diplomatic challenges. This dual focus underscores a strategy of pursuing negotiations on separate fronts, even as military posturing continues, particularly in the Persian Gulf.

Citing the human toll and a personal feud in Ukraine

While expressing hope for "some good news" from Ukraine, President Trump stressed the staggering human cost of the conflict, claiming "25,000 people a month are being killed." He described the war as senseless and stated his primary motivation is humanitarian: "What I really want to do is save those people from dying." However, he pointed to a fundamental interpersonal obstacle, asserting that progress has been slower than expected due to "tremendous hatred between Zelenskyy and Putin," which he called a key barrier to a faster settlement. This framing personalizes the conflict, suggesting the leaders' enmity is a central diplomatic challenge.

A transactional view of aid and burden-sharing

The president reiterated his long-standing critique of US financial support for Ukraine under the previous administration, which he claimed amounted to "$350 billion." He defended his own approach by emphasizing burden-sharing with European allies through NATO. "We send missiles over there. They pay us in full. It doesn't cost us 10 cents," he argued, presenting arms transfers as a cost-neutral or profitable enterprise for the United States. This transactional perspective contrasts with his stated humanitarian goal but aligns with his political brand of putting "America First" in foreign policy, a stance that resonates with certain political bases but is viewed with concern by traditional allies in Europe and nations like Türkiye that depend on predictable alliance structures.