I think he’s ready to make a deal.
The promise
Trump told Reuters that Vladimir Putin was ready to make an agreement ending Russia's war in Ukraine. He portrayed Ukraine as less ready and identified President Volodymyr Zelensky as the obstacle when asked what was delaying progress. The remark was significant because it placed pressure on the invaded country rather than describing Russia as the principal barrier. The supporting argument was that public pressure on Kyiv could move negotiations toward a settlement. The objection was that readiness to sign an agreement depends on its terms and cannot be established simply by attributing willingness to Putin. This record documents Trump's assessment without adopting it as a factual finding about either leader's intentions.
