'Forget about me': Trump says ‘it’s really on Zelensky’ to secure Ukraine peace deal after Putin summit

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA: Amid growing online debate over his “no deal” announcement following the summit with Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump redirected the spotlight to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, asserting that the responsibility for securing a peace agreement lies with him.

In an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump described the Russia-Ukraine conflict as a “terrible war” and noted that he and Putin found “many” points of agreement during their meeting. He emphasized, however, that Zelensky must take the lead in moving negotiations forward.

Trump says Zelensky holds key to peace deal after Putin summit

President Donald Trump stated that the responsibility for reaching a peace agreement lies squarely with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump called the Russia-Ukraine conflict a “terrible war where both sides are losing a lot” and emphasized that ending it would be a "great achievement" for the involved nations. “Forget about me,” he said.

Trump noted that he and Putin found “many” areas of agreement during their talks, but reiterated, “Make a deal, Russia is a very big power and they’re not. They’re fighting a big war machine. Now, It’s really up to President Zelensky to get it done.”

He also called on European nations to play a more active role in the process, saying, “I would also say the European Nations, they have to get involved a little bit."

While Trump said he doesn't necessarily want to be present at the next round of talks, he offered to attend if it would help move things forward.

“And if they’d like, I’d be at that next meeting. They’re going to set up a meeting now … not that I want to be there, but I want to make sure it gets done. And we have a pretty good shot of getting it done,” he said. 

He emphasized, "Because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that. Now I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now: I think the meeting went very well."

These remarks follow Trump’s earlier claim that he was not negotiating on Ukraine’s behalf. However, he has continued to pledge that he will work to bring the war to an end.

Although Trump and Putin gave a brief press conference after their meeting, they offered few details. Later, in his conversation with Hannity, Trump described their private dialogue as a “10 out of 10.”

Trump's advice to Zelensky sparks mixed reactions online

President Trump’s recent interview, in which he urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to broker a peace deal with Russia, has triggered a wave of reactions across social media.

Some users defended Trump’s stance, with one commenting, “Trump isn’t wrong,” while another emphasized the importance of diplomacy, writing, “Seeking peace requires practical steps and respect for all involved. Dialogue matters most."

Others, however, criticized Trump’s message and questioned his influence in the conflict. “This is all he has after this meeting??? Wow,” one user wrote.

Another mocked, “Trump: Make a deal because I can't. And if you do, put in a good word for me to win the Nobel!”

Sarcasm continued to flood the thread, with a user joking, “Bro went from ‘I can stop this’ to ‘yeah, I can’t stop this’ 😂.”

Critics also raised concerns about Trump’s intentions, suggesting ulterior motives. “It's all for show. He was never seriously on Ukraine's side! Only wanted Ukraine's precious minerals contract! There are givers & takers. Tr*mp is a taker,” one commenter argued.

Another expressed disappointment, saying, “Yup, Trump failed again. He cannot deliver on the promises he has made. His conflicts of interest prevent him from doing the right thing.”

 Pointing blame elsewhere, one user posted directly to the president, "Hey @realDonaldTrump, Putin started this war, and he can end it TODAY! Just withdraw his troops from Ukraine. That's the deal, don't try to pin it on Zelenskyy."

Summing up the sentiment of many skeptics, a user simply wrote, “Someone is in over their head.”

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