President Donald Trump stated that an “abnormal animosity” between the leaders of Russia and Ukraine is a hurdle to peace, yet hinted that an agreement may be forthcoming as he readies to take on his role as a mediator again.
Trump remarked during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday: “There’s a significant hostility between President Zelenskyy and President Putin. That’s detrimental. That’s not conducive to agreements.”
“There’s an unusual level of hatred. Nonetheless, I believe Russia seeks a settlement. I think Ukraine is also inclined towards an agreement, and we will attempt to facilitate that,” he added, stating: “If they don’t reach an agreement, they are foolish.”
Trump is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Davos on Thursday, while Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will engage with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow later that day.
Trump asserted that both parties are “relatively close” to an agreement, while Witkoff informed CNBC on Wednesday that “land issues” concerning Ukraine were the final obstacle to concluding the nearly four-year-long conflict.
On Thursday, Witkoff provided additional insights on negotiation advancements, informing an audience in Davos that only one last matter remained. “If both parties desire a resolution, we will resolve it,” Witkoff stated in remarks reported by Reuters.
Europe on the sidelines
Europe finds itself largely excluded from U.S.-Russia-Ukraine dialogues aimed at resolving the conflict, despite efforts to advocate for Kyiv to avoid unfavorable peace conditions imposed on its neighbor.
While Trump and his associates seem to believe Putin is eager to agree to a ceasefire, Ukraine and other regional leaders express skepticism, contending that Russia’s manpower superiority on the battlefield and gradual advancements suggest it is prepared to prolong the war and buy time by extending negotiations.
European leaders are concerned that a poor peace settlement would only strengthen Russia’s determination to reassert itself in Ukraine later, with these worries being particularly acute in Europe’s “front line” countries such as Poland and Finland, which border Russia.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki conveyed to CNBC on Wednesday, “Irrespective of whether a peace agreement is signed or not – despite President Trump’s commendable efforts – Russia will persist as a menace to Europe.”
He added, “Should peace be established, Russia will aim to reorganize its forces and launch future attacks on Europe. Conversely, if a peace agreement is not achieved, the war in Ukraine will endure,” he informed CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick.
“The Russian Federation harbors a distinct mentality, both politically and socially, geared toward assaulting and subjugating nations west of its borders. This is what we must gird ourselves for, which means enhancing our infrastructure, increasing defense expenditure, and fostering unity,” he articulated.
Trump has consistently criticized NATO members for inadequate defense spending, reiterating this sentiment during his address at WEF, declaring that the U.S. has been unfairly treated by its NATO allies:
“We received nothing; we actually addressed NATO’s requirements for years and years …. [thus] I believe it’s time for NATO to elevate its contributions.”
“We’re assisting them with Ukraine. Without our involvement, I suspect Putin would have advanced completely,” Trump mentioned.
Finland’s President Alexander Stubb communicated to CNBC that his nation, which joined NATO in 2023, is accustomed to Russian unpredictability and aggression, and that it is contributing to the protection of NATO member states, including the U.S.
“Finland does not present a façade of weakness at the Russian frontier; quite the opposite. Why? Because we have always had to manage it independently. Being part of the [NATO] alliance now, we are effectively safeguarding the United States from potential Russian hostility,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick.
“What I want to emphasize to all my American friends is, rest assured, we’ve got this. The Finnish border with Russia extends for 1340 kilometers. We have been preparing for this since 1917, when we achieved independence, and we manage quite well,” he stated.
In 2025, the U.S. allocated 3.2% of its GDP to defense, Poland allocated nearly 4.5% of its GDP, and Finland allocated 2.7%, according to projections from NATO for 2025. Alliance members reached an agreement last year to increase their defense expenditures from 2% of GDP to 5%.
