US president admits to concern Russian counterpart does not want to ‘stop the war’ and ponders new approach to Moscow

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy have sat down for a face-to-face talk in the opulent halls of a Vatican basilica to discuss a possible ceasefire, after which the US president accused his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of not wanting to “stop the war”.

The White House described Trump’s meeting with the Ukrainian leader before Pope Francis’s funeral as “very productive”, while Zelenskyy said on X that the talk with the US president was symbolic and had the “potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results”.

It was the first time that Zelenskyy and Trump had met face to face after a frosty February encounter in the White House where Trump and the US vice-president, JD Vance, berated the Ukrainian leader and accused him of ingratitude for US aid.

  • dhork@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    I find it interesting that after one meeting with Zelenskyy in a neutral place, without any handlers present, that Trump has done such a sudden about face.

    Maybe it’s just a coincidence. Maybe it’s just that Trump’s tiny mind can only hold one thought at a time, so it fixates on the last thing that was said to him. But it’s also possible that he is being actively manipulated by foreign actors, and Zelenskyy just managed to pierce their control over Trump by staging this very private talk, in a public place, where he could be guaranteed that his message could be delivered directly.

    • BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world
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      24 hours ago

      That video of him sitting in his desk like a ignored elder while Elon(with his effin kid) talks to the media in the oval office gave me strong puppet vibes

    • futatorius@lemm.ee
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      2 days ago

      Trump is weak-minded and repeats whatever someone just told him. That’s why so much power resides with whoever controls access to Trump.

    • atzanteol@sh.itjust.works
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      2 days ago

      Trump frequently comes away believingwhat the last person he spoke to said. It’s one of his defining characteristics. We’ll see how long this sticks.

    • Cyv_@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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      2 days ago

      I think he probably has dementia. It makes it easier to have him do stupid shit, easier to influence, but also makes it harder to stop him once he fixates. Also easy to manipulate can very much backfire.

      Soon they’ll all be falling over themselves to appease the mad king. I hate this so much.

      I really hope we actually give Ukraine full fucking support. They deserve it.