Russia agrees with Trump on Zelensky hindering peace deal in Ukraine

JAKARTA - The Kremlin said on Thursday that Russia agreed with US President Donald Trump that President Volodymyr Zelensky, not Russia, was holding up a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.

President Trump's assessment in an interview with Reuters contrasted with the opinion of European allies, who have consistently argued Moscow is less interested in ending the fighting and wants to seize as much territory as possible while seeking to avoid further Western sanctions.

"I think he's ready to make a deal," Trump said of Putin when speaking to Reuters in the Oval Office, as quoted (15/1).

"I think Ukraine is less ready to make a deal," he said.

When asked why US-led negotiations had not resolved Europe's biggest land conflict since World War Two, Trump replied: "Zelensky."

President Trump's comments showed a renewed frustration with the Ukrainian leader. The two presidents have long had a tumultuous relationship, though their interactions appear to have improved during President Trump's first year back in office.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked if he agreed with Trump: "I agree, that's what it is. President Putin and the Russians remain open (to negotiations)."

"Russia's position is well known. It is known to American negotiators, President Trump, and the leadership of the Kyiv regime," Peskov said.

Russia controls about a fifth of Ukraine, including the Crimean peninsula, which it annexed in 2014. Moscow wants Kyiv to withdraw its troops from parts of the Russian-uncontrolled Donetsk region but has claimed it as its territory.

Ukraine - which has rejected the idea of giving territory to Moscow - wants fighting to stop along the current front line. The US has proposed a free-trade zone if Ukraine withdraws its troops.

US-led negotiations in recent weeks have centered on security guarantees for post-war Ukraine after a potential peace deal, although some European officials have warned that Putin is highly unlikely to accept some of these requirements.

Talks have been further hampered after Russia accused Ukraine last month of trying to attack President Putin's residence, a charge Kyiv says is a lie.

Peskov said Moscow would welcome Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, and President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to the Kremlin for further talks on Ukraine after the date of the visit was agreed.

President Trump himself told Reuters that he was unaware of the possibility of Witkoff and Kushner's visit to Moscow, which was previously reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday.