Trump sees Ukraine under duress

US President Donald Trump will not hold the aggressor Russia more accountable for his recent actions in the Ukraine war and primarily sees Ukraine in a situation of no choice. In response to a reporter's question about what he had to say regarding Russia's violation of the "energy weapons truce" it himself announced, Trump said the night before today: "Well, I would have to look at that first, because there were violations on both sides." Trump defends Putin When asked how he would want to persuade Russia's President Vladimir Putin to abide by the ceasefire, Trump said he believes Putin wants to reach an agreement and that the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy must also want that. In response to another question, where he sees the willingness for an agreement with Putin if he attacks Ukraine, Trump said: "I believe they will reach an agreement. I actually believe that Putin is more interested than Zelenskyy in making a deal." Zelenskyy had previously asked the US to urge Russia to adhere to the ceasefire announced by Trump and limited to the energy sector. Trump had recently caused offense to Ukraine several times: For example, he demanded a change of Zelenskyy during a phone call with Putin and announced an agreement to deliver hundreds of thousands of tons of diesel from Russia. There was strong criticism from European allies as well as from his own country.