The president said on Friday that he did not think it was necessary for Zelenskyy to attend negotiations.
President Donald Trump is confident in striking a deal with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine, potentially ceasing the three-year-long war as early as this week, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Feb. 22.
“The president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations with both sides of this war to end the conflict, and the president is very confident we can get it done this week,” Leavitt told reporters at the White House following her return from the 2025 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).
Leavitt’s comments follow a period of negotiations between the Trump administration, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said on Friday that he did not think it was necessary for Zelenskyy to attend negotiations about ending the war.
“I’ve been watching for years, and I’ve been watching [Zelenskyy] negotiate with no cards,” Trump told Brian Kilmeade of FOX News Radio. “He has no cards. And you get sick of it.”
“So, I don’t think he’s very important to be at meetings, to be honest with you,” he added. “He makes it very hard to make deals.”
Trump acknowledged that Russia attacked Ukraine to start the war but accused former President Joe Biden and Zelenskyy of not doing enough to talk down Moscow.
“Every time I say, ‘Oh, it’s not Russia’s fault,’ I always get slammed by the fake news,” Trump said. “But I’m telling you, Biden said the wrong things. Zelensky said the wrong things. They got attacked by somebody that’s much bigger and much stronger.”
On Saturday, Leavitt said national security advisor Mike Waltz would work “around the clock” this weekend on a deal to end the war, adding that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has participated in discussions around a proposal with Ukraine to harness raw minerals.
“When it comes to the critical minerals, this is an important piece for the president. It’s very important for the president, because it will recoup American tax dollars,” Leavitt said. “And it also will be a great economic partnership between the United States of America and for the Ukrainian people as well as they rebuild their country following this brutal war.”
The venture could generate $200 million in funds and create a vested security interest in Ukraine pending legislative approval, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told CBS News last week.
By Jacob Burg
