Putin highlights “Mutual Understanding” with Trump Administration Amidst Ukraine War Efforts
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated he believes the administration of US President Donald Trump is “listening” to Russia’s position regarding the war in Ukraine, noting a “mutual understanding” following recent discussions.He made these remarks during a bilateral meeting with slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in beijing on Tuesday, following talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
“We are very happy about this and hope this constructive dialog will continue,” putin said, according to reports.
The meeting with Fico is particularly noteworthy as the Slovakian Prime Minister is the only European leader scheduled to attend China’s victory Day parade on Wednesday. Fico has consistently opposed Western sanctions on Russia and voiced criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Putin’s comments arrive as Moscow faces continued pressure from the Trump administration to de-escalate the conflict. The US has recently imposed additional tariffs on India for its purchases of Russian oil, a move intended to increase economic pressure on the Kremlin.
Trump himself claimed to have made “great progress” after a meeting with putin in Alaska last month, though no definitive agreement to end the war - Europe’s deadliest as World War II – was reached.
Putin indicated during the talks that he and Trump discussed Ukraine’s security during the Alaska summit, suggesting “options” for resolution and expressing belief in a potential “opportunity to find consensus.”
Addressing concerns raised by Ukraine and Western European leaders about Russia’s intentions, Putin dismissed claims of potential further aggression as “horror stories” and “hysteria” propagated by “incompetent people” seeking to portray Russia as a threat. He reiterated Russia’s longstanding position against NATO expansion, stating it remains “unacceptable” for Russia. However, he clarified that Russia has “never objected” to Ukraine’s potential membership in the european Union.
Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari, reporting from Moscow, noted that Putin emphasized Russia’s need to prioritize its own security and insisted that any discussions regarding security guarantees for Ukraine must include Russia.
While Fico expressed Slovakia’s “extremely interested” in normalizing relations with Russia, other Western European nations continue to demonstrate support for Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz proposed Geneva as a potential venue for future ceasefire talks, following a proposal from Trump for a direct summit between Zelenskyy and Putin.
Dozens of European nations are also participating in a meeting organized by france and Britain to discuss Ukraine’s post-war security arrangements. However, current negotiation efforts remain stalled due to fundamental disagreements: Moscow insists on retaining control of all territories captured since the 2022 invasion, a demand Ukraine and its allies have rejected. ukraine has stated it will not cede any of its land, a position supported by its European partners.
