Trump pushes Putin for a deal on Ukraine as Zelensky warns of European decline

Donald Trump has turned up the heat on Vladimir Putin to negotiate a deal to end the war with Ukraine, threatening Russia with ‘high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions’ if he refuses.

President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin. Pictures: Elijah Nouvelage and Alexander Nemenov / AFP.

Donald Trump has played his opening card in managing the war in Eastern Europe, urging Russian President Vladimir Putin to “make a deal” to end the conflict or face further taxes, tariffs and sanctions.

The comments posted by Mr Trump to his Truth Social platform amount to a public offer to mediate an end to the bloody hostilities after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and ignited the largest armed conflict in Europe since the end of World War II.

The US President, who had initially promised to end the war within 24 hours, turned up the heat on Russia after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used an address to the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this week to sound the alarm against the decline of Europe.

“Washington does not believe Europe can bring them something that is really substantial,” he said. “Will President Trump even notice Europe? Does he see NATO as necessary? And will he respect EU institutions?

“Europe can’t afford to be second or third in line for its allies. If that happens, the world will start moving forward without Europe.

“Right now, it’s not clear whether Europe will even have a seat at the table when the war against our country ends.”

Mr Trump on Wednesday local time said he loved the people of Russia and had a “very good relationship with President Putin”.

It should never be forgotten, he said, that Russia “helped us win the Second World War”.

“All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” he posted on Truth ­Social. “If we don’t make a ‘deal’, and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.

“Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were president, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better. It’s time to MAKE A DEAL. NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”

Mr Trump has appointed retired three-star general Keith Kellogg as his special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, with the Wall Street Journal saying he had been handed a 100-day timeline to try to secure an end to the fighting.

In a video released by the Kremlin this week, Mr Putin said the objective of any talks should “not be a brief truce – not some kind of respite for the regrouping of forces and rearmament with a view to a subsequent continuation of the conflict – but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, all peoples who live in the region”.

The Russian leader also held a video call with Chinese President Xi Jinping just hours after Mr Trump’s inauguration, with both men advocating for a more multipolar world in which their two nat­ions would deepen strategic and practical co-operation.

In his speech in Davos, Mr Zelensky said it was obvious “how much influence China has on Russia and we are deeply grateful to Europe for all the support it’s given our country during this war. But will President Trump listen to ­Europe, or will he negotiate with Russia and China without Europe?”

He backed Mr Trump’s push for European nations to increase defence spending, noting that when it came to army size, Russia could field about “1.3 to 1.5 million troops” while Ukraine had more than 800,000 in its military.

“Second after us comes France, with over 200,000; then Germany, Italy and the UK. Everyone else has less. This isn’t a situation where one country can secure itself alone.

“It’s about all of us standing together to mean something.

“Europe needs to learn how to fully take care of itself,” he said.

“We need a united European security and defence policy, and all European countries must be willing, willing to spend as much on ­security as is truly needed – not just as much as they’ve gotten used to during years of neglect.

“If it takes 5 per cent of GDP to cover defence, then so be it, 5 per cent it is.”

Mr Zelensky said it was important to ensure that the US saw ­Europe as essential so that “one day, in Washington, they will say – all eyes on Europe”.

“And not because of war but because of the opportunities in Europe,” he said.

“Europe must shape history for itself and its allies to remain not just relevant but alive and great.”