U.S. President Donald Trump told the BBC that Russia holds "the cards" in any Ukraine peace negotiations due to its territorial gains.

Axar.az, citing BBC, reports that he claimed that Moscow wants to end the war and stated that he trusts Russia's intentions.

Trump also criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him a "dictator" for the second time in a day, citing the suspension of elections under martial law. His remarks sparked a backlash from European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who defended Zelensky’s legitimacy.

Trump further blamed Ukraine for the war, saying, "You should have never started it," and suggested Kyiv could have made a deal. In response, Zelensky accused Trump of being influenced by Russian disinformation and dismissed claims about his low approval rating, citing polls showing 57% public trust.

Trump’s comments followed a U.S.-Russia meeting in Saudi Arabia, from which Ukraine was excluded, fueling tensions between Kyiv and Washington.