Russian invasion The world's response

Expert on Trump's moves on Ukraine: Doesn't know what he's doing

After being sworn in as US president, Donald Trump urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to make an agreement with Ukraine to end the war, writes AFP.

According to Trump, the Russian president is destroying his own country by not reaching an agreement. A statement that is criticized by Magnus Christiansson, a lecturer at the Swedish National Defense University.

- Here Trump starts by telling Putin what his interests are. It's probably an incredibly irritating start. The Russians don't want to be seen as dictated by the Americans, they want to see themselves on the same level, he tells DN.

The move is "ill-conceived diplomacy", according to Christiansson, who gets the impression that Trump doesn't know what he's doing. He also adds that there is no unified line internally and "let alone any strategy on how to deal with the Russians".

Trump wants Putin to join Ukraine deal

Donald Trump will soon talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the war in Ukraine, AFP reports.

- He should make a deal. I think he is destroying Russia by not making a deal. I think Russia is going to have big problems, Trump said in the Oval Office of the White House after Monday's presidential inauguration.

At the same time, Trump added that he gets along well with Putin and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky probably wants a peace deal.

Putin says he is open to talks about a peace deal, writes TT.

- I want to emphasize that the goal should not be a short ceasefire, but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people, the Russian president says on Russian state television.