Putin is doing what he has to do: If the Ukrainians don't want an agreement, we're out — Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing what anyone else would do in his place. This was stated to journalists at a briefing at the White House by US President Donald Trump.

"He's doing what anyone else would do," said Trump, quoted by the publication "Country".

This is how he answered the question of whether Putin is using the pause in the supply of weapons to Ukraine in his favor.

Trump was also asked why he is not helping Ukraine with Air defense against the background of today's Russian shelling.

"I need to know that they (Ukraine. — EADaily) they want to conclude an agreement. I don't know yet if they want to," he said.

"I think he (Putin. — Ed.) wants to stop it… I think Ukraine wants it too… If the Ukrainians don't want an agreement, we get out of there," Trump said.

Trump also made it clear that in order to unblock military supplies, Ukraine would have to sign an agreement on minerals, since the United States "spent 350 billion on them."

Trump is convinced that Vladimir Putin did not want to start a war on Ukraine. He also stressed that without his participation, a peaceful settlement of the conflict "would not have a single chance."

Trump stressed that first — the end of hostilities, then — guarantees, Sky News reports. Speaking about Ukraine, he made it clear that his priorities are different from the European ones. Kiev demands security guarantees to reach a peace agreement, however, according to the American president, it is first necessary to stop hostilities.

"Before I even start thinking about it (about guarantees. — EADaily), I want to settle the war, end it. As for the issue of security guarantees in the future — this is the easy part. The most difficult thing is to achieve a settlement," he said.