National security adviser Mike Waltz expressed optimism on where things stand regarding peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with President Donald Trump over the weekend.
Trump’s “iconic” visit with Zelensky took place as both were in the Vatican to attend Pope Francis’s funeral on Saturday. During his visit, Trump wanted to meet with Zelensky “face-to-face” and inform him on how he would end the war in Ukraine. Waltz contended that Trump’s efforts to end the war during his first 100 days back in office contrasts with the last administration having “no end in sight” on this matter.
“This was a meat grinder of men and material and national treasure that really he had never defined victory,” Waltz stated on Fox News’s Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. “President Trump is determined to use diplomacy to bring this war to an end, to talk to both sides, and just in a hundred days, we’ve had multiple rounds led by Secretary of State Rubio, by Ambassador Steve Witkoff in Saudi Arabia, and now in the Vatican, and it was just truly special to stand there with other world leaders looking on as President Trump led the way.”
Waltz continued by explaining that the next step in the peace negotiations is to drive “both sides to the table,” adding that both Ukraine and Russia need a desire to end the war. Amid Trump’s bid for peace, Waltz explained that the president has expressed frustrations over whether both sides “genuinely” want to stop fighting, but that he is still determined to accomplish such an outcome.
The national security adviser continued by stating that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Mark Rutte stated this week that Trump was able to break the “deadlock” between the two warring countries. He also said that Trump is willing to use “both carrots and sticks” on both Russia and Ukraine to bring the leaders of both countries to end their war.
TRUMP PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO A POPE WHO PUBLICLY AND POINTEDLY DISAGREED WITH HIM
On the same day Trump met with Zelensky at the Vatican, Russian officials confirmed for the first time publicly that North Korean soldiers have been fighting alongside them in the war in Ukraine. The U.S. president expressed frustration with Russia and President Vladimir Putin, speculating that the country does not want the war to end, and that the U.S. should possibly use “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” as a means to strongarm Russia into ending the war.
A day prior to venting his frustrations, Trump stated he had “a good day in talks and meetings” with both Russia and Ukraine, and that both countries are “very close” to reaching a deal.