Former President Trump's return to the White House has brought renewed focus on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. With meetings scheduled with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, the administration is actively pursuing a peace agreement. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz confirmed the upcoming visits on "America Reports," highlighting the significant shift in dialogue spurred by Trump's involvement. He emphasized that in a short time, Trump has brought all parties to the table for discussions about ending the war, a feat he believes only Trump could achieve.

A recent meeting in Riyadh between Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, and Putin's foreign affairs advisor Yuri Ushakov aimed to explore pathways to peace. Notably, Ukraine was not present at these talks, a point of contention for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has firmly stated that any peace deal must include Ukraine's direct participation. Zelenskyy reiterated this stance during a press conference in Turkey, emphasizing that decisions regarding Ukraine's future cannot be made without its involvement.

Trump has expressed growing frustration with Zelenskyy's negotiating tactics and his complaints about being excluded from the Saudi Arabia talks. In an interview with Brian Kilmeade, Trump criticized Zelenskyy's approach, stating he's "sick of it" and highlighting the lack of progress in past negotiations. He questioned the necessity of Zelenskyy's presence at the meetings, given his involvement in previous unsuccessful discussions.

Trump also criticized Macron and Starmer for their perceived inaction in resolving the conflict. His comments have reportedly raised concerns among European leaders who have supported Ukraine. Macron, in a social media Q&A, stated his intention to address this directly with Trump, emphasizing the importance of a strong stance against Putin. Starmer, speaking in Scotland, echoed Zelenskyy's sentiment, underscoring that any peace discussions must include Ukraine to ensure a secure future for the nation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt expressed optimism about the possibility of a peace deal being reached this week.