President Donald Trump said he was surprised that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not moved more quickly toward a negotiated agreement to end the war with Russia, suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin is prepared to reach a deal.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump said he expected Zelensky to be more willing to pursue diplomatic negotiations aimed at resolving the conflict.

“I’m surprised that Zelensky doesn’t want to make a deal. Tell Zelensky to make a deal because [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s willing to make a deal,” Trump told NBC News in an interview.

Trump added that in his view, the Ukrainian leader has been more difficult to negotiate with than Moscow.

“Zelensky is far more difficult to make a deal with,” the US president added.

The remarks come as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues with no immediate resolution in sight, despite intermittent discussions about possible diplomatic efforts to end the fighting.

Trump has repeatedly said he believes a negotiated settlement could bring the conflict to an end and has argued that both sides should pursue an agreement to stop the war. His comments reflect ongoing debate among Western leaders and policymakers about whether diplomacy or continued military pressure offers the most realistic path toward ending the conflict.

The Ukrainian government has consistently maintained that any agreement must include protections for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while Russia has continued to press its own demands as the fighting continues across several fronts.