Trump says Putin ‘would like to see a settlement’ in Ukraine war — SkimNews
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- Trump said on October 10, 2026, that Putin told him in an October 9 phone call that Russia "would like to see a settlement, strongly" in the Ukraine war, the most explicit US endorsement yet of Moscow's desire to end the conflict.
- Trump accused Zelenskyy of blocking a compromise, telling reporters: "Russia would like to make a deal... but for whatever reason, Mr. Zelenskyy does not want to make a deal."
- Trump criticized Zelenskyy for not holding an election since Russia invaded in 2022, saying "he should have an election and he could have settled this thing many times."
- Washington moved to ease sanctions on Russian diesel, prompting Zelenskyy to publicly call the move a "weak decision" and triggering a public barbs exchange with Trump on Saturday.
- Trump claimed Zelenskyy disobeyed his orders not to strike Russian refineries, warning the attacks risk worsening global fuel shortages tied to the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Why it matters: Trump is pairing rhetorical pressure on Zelenskyy — to hold elections, stop refinery strikes, and accept a deal — with the concrete policy step of easing Russian diesel sanctions. That combination gives Moscow diplomatic and economic leverage, and signals to Kyiv that the US is willing to act unilaterally on the conflict regardless of Ukrainian objections.
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