US President Donald Trump, in an interview with Newsmax, accused Russia of deliberately delaying the process of agreeing on a ceasefire with Ukraine. According to him, Moscow is using a wait-and-see tactic, avoiding specific commitments in order to maintain its position in the conflict.

"It's an old game of not signing a contract and staying in business, even though you may not want to. I did it myself in business for many years," "Trump said, comparing the Kremlin's approach to his own negotiating methods.

At the same time, he expressed confidence that Russia still wants to end the conflict, despite the current strategy.

Trump's remarks come as his administration is actively seeking ways to resolve the conflict, which has become one of the key challenges since his return to the White House in January 2025. The US president hinted that Washington's patience is not limitless, although he did not outline specific measures in response to the delays, leaving intrigue about what next steps will be.

Negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain at an impasse. A temporary moratorium on attacks on energy infrastructure was imposed in March until mid-April, but the move has made little progress. Russia continues to insist on recognizing new territorial borders, while Kyiv demands a complete withdrawal of troops and rejects any compromise without security guarantees. Trump has previously proposed a sweeping agreement, but his current words reflect growing frustration with the slow pace of dialogue.

Washington is already discussing the possibility of tightening sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to push Moscow into action. At the same time, Ukraine is counting on increased military support from the United States, which could become leverage for Trump. Russia, meanwhile, is showing calm: in March, its diplomats said there was no need to rush without taking Moscow’s interests into account. With fighting continuing in border areas including the Kursk and Belgorod regions, Trump’s stance underscores the difficulty of the task he faces: finding a way out of a conflict in which each side is trying to outmaneuver the other.