"Putin is destroying Russia, unwilling to make a peace deal": Trump speaks on meeting with dictator

US President Donald Trump has said that dictator Vladimir Putin is "destroying" Russia by refusing to conclude an agreement to end the war in Ukraine. He also hinted that he gets along "very well" with him and may meet and talk with him in the near future.

The Republican told reporters about this on January 20, arriving after the inauguration at the White House, NDTV World reports. However, he did not name any specific dates.

"He (Putin – Ed.) has to make a deal. I think he's destroying Russia by not making a deal," Trump said.

According to him, Russia will "have big problems" because of this, as most Russians "thought the war would be over in a week."

"I think it would be very good for him if he ended this war," the American leader added.

He said that he would speak with Putin, whom he has often expressed admiration for, at some point, but did not specify a time. Media reports say that Western leaders, with the exception of right-wing figures such as the Russian dictator's ally, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, have avoided meetings and, in most cases, calls with Putin, "trying to isolate him politically."

"I get along well with [Putin]. I hope he wants to make a deal," Trump concluded.

The 47th US president also added that his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy "told him that he wants a peace deal to end the war." During the presidential campaign, the Republican himself loudly promised to end the war in Ukraine "within 24 hours of taking office." In recent weeks, he has reneged on this promise but still claims that he will help to end the war as soon as possible.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, according to CNN, Trump instructed his aides to organize a phone call with Putin in the first days after the inauguration. The purpose of the call is to discuss their personal meeting in the near future to "try to find a way to end the war in Ukraine."

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