Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Trump Says Putin Wants Ukraine Settlement, Criticizes Zelensky
Donald Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said Putin told him this during a phone call on Friday.
Trump blamed Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, for not agreeing to a deal and said Ukraine should hold an election.
He also said Ukraine might have made a better deal two years ago.
The United States moved to ease restrictions on Russian diesel, and Trump said Russia would supply diesel to the United States and other markets.
Zelensky criticized the move, saying Russia could use the money to support its war.
Trump also accused Ukraine of attacking Russian refineries and said the attacks could worsen fuel shortages.
No peace agreement was announced, and Russia has not committed to restarting negotiations.
Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin wants a settlement to the war in Ukraine, describing their Friday phone call.
Trump accused Volodymyr Zelensky of resisting a deal and said Ukraine should have held an election.
Trump said Ukraine could have reached a better agreement two years earlier and cited Russia’s military advantage.
Washington moved to ease restrictions on Russian diesel exports; Trump said Russia would supply diesel to the United States and global markets.
Zelensky criticized the diesel decision, warning Russian energy revenue could support Moscow’s military campaign; Trump also accused Ukraine of striking Russian refineries.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
- What
- Trump said Putin wants a settlement and criticized Zelensky, while the two sides also clashed over easing restrictions on Russian diesel.
- When
- Trump spoke on Saturday after a phone call with Putin on Friday.
- Where
- Trump spoke to reporters at Joint Base Andrews.
- Why
- Trump said Putin wanted a settlement and criticized Ukraine’s negotiating approach; Zelensky objected to the diesel move, warning it could provide Russia with additional war funding.
Trump’s position
Zelensky’s position
Ukraine negotiations
Trump’s position
Trump said Putin wanted a settlement and accused Zelensky of resisting a deal and missing opportunities to reach one.
Zelensky’s position
The articles do not report Zelensky’s response to Trump’s claims about negotiations. They note that Russia did not commit to restarting talks.
Russian diesel
Trump’s position
Trump said Russian diesel would be supplied to the United States and global markets amid fuel shortages and rising prices.
Zelensky’s position
Zelensky called the decision weak and warned that additional Russian energy revenue could help Moscow continue its military campaign.
Strikes on Russian refineries
Trump’s position
Trump accused Zelensky of disobeying orders not to strike Russian refineries and said the attacks could worsen fuel shortages.
Zelensky’s position
The articles do not provide Zelensky’s response to this accusation.
- Trump’s account of Putin’s position
- Trump said Putin strongly wanted to see a settlement.
- Phone call
- Trump said he spoke with Putin on Friday.
- Election criticism
- Trump said Zelensky should hold an election despite the ongoing conflict.
- Diesel
- Trump said Russia would supply diesel to the United States and global markets after Washington moved to ease restrictions.
- Zelensky’s criticism
- Zelensky called the diesel decision a “weak decision” and warned Russian energy revenue could strengthen Moscow’s military campaign.
- Refinery strikes
- Trump accused Zelensky of disobeying orders not to strike Russian refineries and said the attacks risked worsening global fuel shortages.
- Negotiations
- No agreement was announced after the Trump-Putin call; an account attributed to Putin’s foreign policy adviser said Putin did not commit to restarting talks.
