Trump refuses to call Putin obstacle to peace, says Zelenskyy "has no cards"

He said this in an interview with Fox News, CNN reports.

Trump was asked whether he considers Putin an obstacle to achieving peace, but the U.S. President refused to answer the question. Instead, he shifted the topic by speaking about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

“Look, I had a real rough session with Zelenskyy because I didn’t like what he said, and he was not making it easy. And I always said he doesn’t have the cards, and he doesn’t have the cards, you know, I’m being honest. He doesn’t have the cards,” Trump said.

“And I always felt there can’t be a meeting without me, because I don’t think a deal is going to get through. We have to get together, and I think we’ll probably schedule it, because I’m tired of having other people go and meet and everything else,” Trump said.

Trump did not comment on the additional sanctions against Russia, which he had previously mentioned. He said that secondary sanctions remain on the table.

“I always had that. I will use that if I have to. I’d rather not use that,” the U.S. President added.

• On May 16, French President Emmanuel Macron said that U.S. President Donald Trump intends to exchange views with Moscow in the near future.