President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment with Russia for conducting missile strikes while negotiations were in progress to establish a peace agreement between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a conversation with reporters, Trump covered a variety of subjects, including the peace discussions between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin initially suggested the meeting in what appeared to be an effort to thwart Western nations’ plans to impose additional sanctions if Moscow failed to agree to a 30-day ceasefire a few weeks ago. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested a face-to-face meeting with the Russian leader in Istanbul.
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesperson for the Kremlin, stated that Moscow would dispatch a team but did not specify who would represent Russia. He also refrained from confirming whether Putin would participate in the discussions.
Reports suggest that U.S. officials have proposed a potential ceasefire plan that would entail recognizing Russia’s control over Crimea—territory it annexed in 2014—and maintaining the current frontlines. However, Zelenskyy has made it clear that Crimea is a non-negotiable issue.
In 2022, Zelenskyy remarked that the Russian war against Ukraine and the entire free Europe “began with Crimea and must end with Crimea – and its liberation,” as reported by Axios.
Zelenskyy reiterated his government’s stance, rejecting any proposal that would concede Russian sovereignty over Crimea. Meanwhile, Trump attributed the loss of Crimea to the previous U.S. administrations of Presidents Obama and Biden, criticizing their management of the region.
Trump stated: “Crimea was given away by Barack Hussein Obama, and by Biden, like 11 or 12 years ago. That’s a long time ago,” Trump told reporters. “I don’t know how he could bring up Crimea, because that’s been a long time. Nobody brought it up for 12 years, and now they’re bringing it up now. So, I told them, I told him, he should maybe go back to Obama, ask him why they gave it up. They gave it without a shot.
Trump stated that the United States has regained its respect since he assumed office.
“There are no more games,” he remarked. “We have a leader who understands what he is doing, unlike the former individual who was completely lost.”
This statement arises as Trump faces promised consequences for demonstrators who have spat on law enforcement officers during the anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles, California.
Shortly after deploying National Guard troops to Los Angeles, California, President Donald Trump assured that there would be consequences for demonstrators who spit on police officers.
While addressing the media alongside Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Jersey before boarding Air Force One, the president condemned the tactics employed by the demonstrators.
On Saturday, he sanctioned the deployment of no fewer than 2,000 National Guard troops to Los Angeles in reaction to protests concerning ICE raids on employers.
Trump informed reporters that he is contemplating the invocation of the Insurrection Act in light of the riots and disorder.
A recent report has identified one of the primary organizations behind the anti-ICE protests occurring on the streets of Los Angeles on Sunday, which has resulted in numerous instances of insults and harassment directed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
This announcement follows President Donald Trump’s decision to federalize nearly 2,000 California National Guard troops, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has placed an additional 500 U.S. Marines stationed nearby at Camp Pendleton on alert.
Further protests are anticipated in California on Monday and potentially throughout the remainder of the week.