Trump suggests Russia-Ukraine war may continue

Washington

US President Donald Trump said it might be better if the Russia-Ukraine conflict continued for some more time. He made this comment during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House. Merz had urged the US to increase pressure on Russia to stop the war.

Trump said there is too much "bad blood" between Russia and Ukraine, which makes a ceasefire difficult. "They fight, fight, fight," he said. Comparing the war to sports, Trump explained, "Sometimes you let them fight a little before pulling them apart."

He also said that no new sanctions on Russia were planned right now. However, Trump mentioned he might place sanctions on both Russia and Ukraine. “It takes two to tango,” he added, suggesting both sides are responsible for the ongoing conflict.

Trump also warned Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said that if not for his efforts, Russia would already be facing serious consequences. “Putin is playing with fire,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, his platform.

When speaking to reporters, Trump criticized both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. “I'm not happy with what Putin’s doing,” he said. “I don’t know what the hell happened to Putin.”

These comments show a major shift from Trump’s earlier position, where he promised to end the war quickly if re-elected. Now, he appears more willing to let the fighting continue before stepping in.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has already caused thousands of deaths and widespread destruction. Many world leaders continue to urge peace, but the situation remains tense.