Quotes
A peace agreement that is broadly favourable to all sides would have macroeconomic benefits: it could set the basis for a modest pick-up in some Russian pipeline gas flows to Europe [and] the easing of Western sanctions on Russia,
he noted in emailed comments
The decision by the U.S. and Russia to 'lay the groundwork' to end the war in Ukraine marks a potentially significant turning point after three years of conflict,
Liam Peach, senior emerging markets economist at Capital Economics, said in a note Tuesday
I rate [the negotiations] highly, there is a result,
Putin saidIn general, as I was told, it [the mood] was very friendly. On the American side, there were entirely different people who were open to the negotiation process without any bias, without any prejudice to what was done in the past,
he said in comments translated by NBC NewsFor now, it is necessary to clean up the legacy of the Biden administration, which did everything to destroy ... the very foundation of long-term partnership between our countries,
Lavrov said, commenting on the possibility of strategic cooperation between Russia and United States, Russian state news agency Tass reportedThat's the picture Europe has before its eyes right now. A small but brave free democracy fighting for its life is forced to be a bystander as its sovereignty is destroyed by Trump and Putin, both land grabbers, both megalomaniacs, brothers in bullying others."
He added
A European force could of course be assembled and rapidly. 100,000 troops in Ukraine would demonstrate that Putin had not won. He knows this."
He statedWe can do it the easy way, or the hard way ... It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL’.”
In a social media post last month, Trump wrote
Other than a few Democrats here and there, I am amazed at the eunuch brigade we have on Capitol Hill. They‘re just allowing their power to be run over roughshod,
he said this afternoon on the network
Ukraine did not ‘start’ this war. Russia launched an unprovoked and brutal invasion claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The Road to Peace must be built on the Truth.”
In a post on X on Wednesday, Pence directed his comments to Trump and saidThey are acting democratically in my judgement and abiding by their constitution and also the parliament is supporting it which represents the people throughout the country. These are democratic actions taking place in a democratic country,
he saysIt is difficult to put into words what an about-face this is for US support for Ukraine, which for years was built on helping the country defend itself, though not win the war,
The Guardian's Andrew Roth wrote
Mr. Trump is in the middle of executing one of the most jaw-dropping pivots in American foreign policy in generations, a 180-degree turn that will force friends and foes to recalibrate in fundamental ways."
The consensus opinion is best summed up by Peter Baker of The New York TimesIf Rumble were to be shut down, that shut down would necessarily interfere with Truth Social’s operations, as well,
it addsIt’s not $500 billion – that’s not a serious conversation."
But Zelensky clarified
We will be ready to return to the negotiating table".
He addedThe United States has spent $200 Billion Dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the United States will get nothing back,
wrote TrumpThe constant expulsion of diplomats from Washington and Moscow does not lead to anything good,
Putin said according to RIA Novosti, Russian state-owned mediaI believe that the United States helped Putin break out of years of isolation,
Zelensky said of the meeting in Saudi Arabia, marking some of his sharpest criticism yet of Trump's approach to Russia and the Ukraine war
He is a completely independent politician,
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by the state-run TASS news agency on Wednesday