(Updated: )
U.S. President Donald Trump on May 19 reiterated he would abandon efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine if progress is not made.
"I tell you, big egos involved, but I think something's going to happen. And if it doesn't, I just back away, and they're going to have to keep going," Trump said.
The U.S. president reiterated earlier remarks that he believes Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
"I said, 'When are we going to end this bloodshed, this blood bath?' It’s a blood bath, and I do believe he wants to end it," Trump said, referring to his conversation with Putin on May 19.
Trump and Putin held a phone call earlier on May 19 as Ukraine and its allies intensify efforts to end Russia's war. Putin did not agree to a full ceasefire in his phone call with Trump, despite calls from global leaders to do so.
When asked by journalists if he believes Putin wants peace in Ukraine, Trump replied, "I do."
When asked by reporters if he trusts Putin, Trump again said, "I do."
The call between Trump and Putin comes days after largely inconclusive negotiations in Turkey.
At the May 15 Istanbul talks, Russia sent a delegation of low-level officials and reiterated maximalist demands, including that Ukraine accept the loss of Crimea and four eastern regions.
Instead of a ceasefire, Putin has insisted on negotiating a "memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty."
Kremlin spokesperson Dimitry Peskov said following the phone call that there was "no timeline" for preparing a memorandum, Russian state-owned media TASS reported. "It’s clear that everyone wants to do this as quickly as possible, but of course, the devil is in the details," Peskov added.
Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna on May 15 described Putin's decision to send junior aides for peace talks with Ukraine in Istanbul as a "slap in the face."
President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly called for a 30-day ceasefire, saying on April 23, Ukraine insists on an "immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."
The Kyiv Independent news desk
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