(Updated: )
U.S. President Donald Trump, in separate statements, told reporters on May 19 that he trusts Russian President Vladimir Putin, will not sanction Russia, but will abandon Ukraine peace efforts if progress is not made.
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 various world 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."
"I think some progress has been made, it's a terrible situation going on over there. 5,000 young people every single week are being killed," Trump said outside the White House.
Trump noted that the U.S. remains in contact with Europe as efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine are underway.
"We also spoke to the heads of most of the European nations and were trying to get that whole thing wrapped up," he said.
Trump will not impose further sanctions against Russia "because there's a chance" of progress towards a ceasefire, he told reporters in the Oval Office later on May 19.
"Because I think there's a chance of getting something done, and if you do that, you could also make it much worse," Trump said, according to CNN.
"But there could be a time where that's going to happen," he added.
Trump 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 in the Oval Office.
The U.S. president reiterated earlier remarks that he believes 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.
Instead of a ceasefire, Putin has insisted on negotiating a "memorandum regarding a potential future peace treaty," the Russian leader said following a two-hour call with Trump on May 19.
Russia's position in peace talks remains unchanged and requires "eliminating the root causes" of the war, Putin added.
The call between the two leaders 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.
Andrea Januta
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