Donald Trump did not mention Ukraine in his inaugural speech; however, later in discussions with journalists, he expressed his views on the war in Ukraine, which were significantly tougher on Russia and Vladimir Putin than one might have anticipated. This is reported by CNN, analyzing Trump's initial statements.
In his conversation with reporters at the White House, he stated that he believes Putin "needs to make a deal."
"I think he is destroying Russia by not making a deal… I got along great with him. I hope he wants to make a deal," Trump emphasized, offering a stark assessment of the damage to Russia from the war, particularly in economic terms.
"I think Russia is going to have big problems. Look at their economy. Look at their inflation in Russia," he added, also mentioning the enormous casualty figures for Russians in the conflict.
"He can't be thrilled… It's not going very well for him. I mean, he is squeezing everything out of himself… this doesn't paint him in a good light… I think it would be good for him to end this war," Trump remarked about Putin.
As reported by Bloomberg, Trump also indicated that he would likely impose sanctions on Russia if Putin does not come to the negotiating table regarding Ukraine.
Trump stated that his administration is also considering sending weapons to Ukraine, adding that, in his view, the EU should do more to support Ukraine.
"We are talking to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky, we are going to talk to President Putin very soon," Trump said. "We are going to look into this."
Trump also mentioned that he pressured Chinese President Xi Jinping to intervene to stop the war in Ukraine.
The War in Ukraine - Trump's Initial Statements
Previously, Trump had stated that he would try to end the war in Ukraine "as quickly as possible". He also mentioned plans to meet with Putin, with preparations for the meeting already underway.
The new U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that for the war to end, each side will have to "give up something."