Trump urges Ukraine to make a deal with Russia, hints at Hubbard

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday once again toughened his rhetoric toward Ukraine and urged it to strike a deal with Russia. At the same time, he hinted that the case of Stephen Hubbard, an American held in Russia, could soon see a breakthrough. Reuters and AFP reported on this.

“Ukraine must want peace”

Trump spoke to reporters in the Oval Office as US special envoy Steve Witkoff, after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo, was preparing to travel to Russia for further talks on Ukraine. After the meeting, Zelensky said that Ukraine cannot be discussed without Ukraine. He was responding to Putin’s proposal to hold a three-way meeting of the US, Russia and China.

“Ukraine must want to settle this war,” Trump said. According to him, if Zelensky lacks the will to end the war, “it will end very badly.” In Trump’s view, Moscow clearly has the upper hand: “Russia is a big machine, it just keeps grinding forward, and that’s what it’s doing. They’ve taken a very large piece of land.”

AFP notes that Trump is now pressing Zelensky far harder than Putin, and in recent days has repeatedly made statements and decisions favorable to the Kremlin.

Trump also said the US has given Ukraine a “tremendous amount” of aid but “got nothing back except expensive diesel.” He again urged Ukrainian forces to stop attacking Russian oil refineries.

What is known about the Hubbard case

Speaking of Hubbard, Trump said he had discussed him with Putin and asked him to release him. “Listen. I don’t want to talk about it much, but everyone has been trying to get him out for a long time, long before I came in. Remember this in a couple of days, okay? Because I do things nobody else can,” he said.

Hubbard, 74, a former teacher, is serving a nearly seven-year sentence in a Russian prison for alleged mercenary activity on behalf of Ukraine. He denies guilt. In early April 2022, just a few weeks after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he was captured by Russian soldiers; according to Russian state media, he confessed. He was sentenced in October 2024 in a closed trial.

In August this year, the Trump administration secured the release of another American, former Marine Robert Gilman. He had spent more than four years in a Russian prison after being accused of assaulting a police officer.

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Around Prague, based on reporting by seznamzpravy.cz