Washington, Jan 23: US President Donald Trump has said that while Moscow and Kyiv appear open to negotiations, longstanding disputes over territory continue to prevent any breakthrough in efforts to end the Ukraine conflict.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return from Davos, Trump characterised the war as deeply complicated and sought to distance his administration from its origins. He said the same unresolved issues that have hindered talks for months remain firmly in place.
Describing the conflict as one he inherited, Trump said negotiations were bogged down by disagreements over borders, land control and geographic divisions, making a settlement difficult. He noted that unlike other international disputes he had handled swiftly, the Ukraine war continued to drag on without resolution.
No timeline for agreement despite openness from both sides
Trump said both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky now seemed inclined toward dialogue, but cautioned that there was no immediate progress.
He declined to offer any forecast, saying discussions had not moved beyond previously established positions. According to Trump, Zelensky had personally conveyed his interest in ending the war, but the underlying parameters remained unchanged.
The President also highlighted the humanitarian toll, particularly during winter, saying civilians in parts of Ukraine were enduring harsh conditions without adequate heating. He described the situation as extremely difficult for ordinary people caught in the conflict.
Foreign policy signals on Greenland, Iran and Venezuela
Turning to Greenland, Trump said his administration was working on a framework arrangement and suggested further clarity would emerge soon. He indicated that talks were proceeding in a constructive atmosphere.
Emphasising US military strength, Trump said maintaining operational freedom remained a priority, pointing to defence capabilities and production capacity built during his earlier tenure.
On Venezuela, Trump spoke positively about ongoing energy arrangements, saying large volumes of oil were being supplied to the United States. He described the deal as economically beneficial, claiming it would strengthen both countries and contribute to domestic tax relief.
Addressing Iran, Trump said significant US naval assets had been deployed to the region but stressed that Washington preferred de-escalation. He also claimed to have intervened diplomatically to halt mass executions, asserting that the move was reversed following US warnings.
Domestic remarks
Trump also touched on domestic economic policy, expressing reservations about allowing retirement savings to be used for housing purchases. He said strong fund performance made such changes unnecessary.