Archive · 10 Sep 2026
Trump Says Putin Wants Ukraine Peace Deal Despite Hostility
Donald Trump said Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, may want an agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said he had a good conversation with Putin on Tuesday.
He suggested that Putin and Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, strongly dislike each other.
Trump believes this personal conflict is slowing down peace talks.
The Kremlin said the phone call was honest and constructive.
American diplomats have also been meeting with Russian and Ukrainian officials.
Some US, Ukrainian, and European intelligence officials doubt that Putin truly wants to end the war.
A report said the CIA director might take a larger role in negotiations, but the CIA called that report false.
Donald Trump said Vladimir Putin wants a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump said hostility between Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy is delaying peace efforts.
Trump described his Tuesday conversation with Putin as “great.”
The Kremlin called the hour-long call “extremely frank” and constructive.
Officials reportedly remain skeptical of Putin’s intentions, while the CIA denied a report about changing negotiation roles.
- Who
- US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and officials involved in negotiations.
- What
- Trump said Putin wants a deal to end the war in Ukraine, but that hostility between Putin and Zelenskyy is delaying progress.
- When
- Trump made the comments on Wednesday, September 10, 2026, after speaking with Putin on Tuesday.
- Where
- The diplomatic efforts involve the United States, Russia, and Ukraine; Trump spoke before departing for Dallas.
- Why
- Trump said the peace effort is being held up mainly by the antagonism between Putin and Zelenskyy, while intelligence officials question Putin’s commitment to ending the war.
Trump’s Optimism
Officials’ Skepticism
Putin’s willingness to negotiate
Trump’s Optimism
Trump said Putin wants to reach a deal to end the war and appears open to a settlement.
Officials’ Skepticism
US, Ukrainian, and European intelligence officials remain skeptical that Putin genuinely seeks an end to the war.
Cause of the delay
Trump’s Optimism
Trump said the peace effort is mainly stalled because Putin and Zelenskyy hate each other.
Officials’ Skepticism
The article reports broader uncertainty about Putin’s intentions but does not identify a different specific cause for the delay.
Role of CIA Director John Ratcliffe
Trump’s Optimism
The Financial Times reported that Ratcliffe could take a larger role in negotiations, potentially alongside reduced roles for Witkoff and Kushner.
Officials’ Skepticism
CIA spokesperson Liz Lyons rejected the report as false.
- Trump-Putin call
- Trump said the conversation on Tuesday was “great”; the Kremlin described the hour-long call as “extremely frank” and constructive.
- Trump’s assessment
- Trump said Putin wants to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
- Reported obstacle
- Trump said the main holdup was the hostility between Putin and Zelenskyy.
- Diplomatic participants
- US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner recently held diplomatic meetings in Moscow and Kyiv.
- CIA involvement
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Russian intelligence officials in Moscow last month.
- Officials’ skepticism
- US, Ukrainian, and European intelligence officials remain skeptical that Putin genuinely wants to end the war.
- CIA response
- The CIA called a Financial Times report about Ratcliffe taking a larger negotiation role and reduced roles for Witkoff and Kushner “false.”