Trump's Statement: "Putin Intends to Continue the War"

# Trump Signals Putin's Reluctance to End War in European Leaders' Call Donald Trump, the former U.S. president, has reportedly indicated that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not inclined to end the war, as he believes he is winning on the battlefield. According to The Wall Street Journal, these comments followed Trump's phone call with Putin on the 19th of this month and subsequent discussions with European leaders on the 21st. This is the first time Trump has directly suggested that Putin is not interested in resolving the conflict, contradicting Putin's previous claims of genuinely pursuing peace. Despite this revelation, Trump seemed hesitant to adopt a strong stance against Russia. Speaking to reporters after his conversation with Putin, Trump stated, "This is not our war. We meddled in something we should not have been involved in from the start." # Mixed Signals on Sanctions and Peace Efforts A day before his call with Putin, Trump communicated with European leaders, suggesting potential sanctions if the Russian president refused a ceasefire. However, after his conversation with Putin, Trump's position seemed to shift. He showed reluctance to proceed with sanctions, instead proposing that the Vatican host expedited working-level dialogue between Russia and Ukraine. The call on the 19th included key leaders such as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. During these discussions, Trump reportedly maintained a lukewarm stance on America's role, avoiding commitment to any measures. When some European leaders emphasized the need for an unconditional ceasefire through Vatican discussions, Trump responded with reservations. "I don’t like the word 'unconditional.' That’s not a term I’ve used," he said. # Contradictions in Ceasefire Demands Trump's skepticism toward the term "unconditional" contradicts his earlier call for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire in a post on his Truth Social platform on the 8th. This inconsistency underscores a divided approach to conflict resolution, highlighting a gap between Trump’s rhetoric and actions in addressing the ongoing war. European allies remain cautious, as mixed messages could further complicate diplomatic efforts aimed at peace.