Trump believes Putin will "honor his commitment" to the Ukraine deal

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Monday that he expects Russian President Vladimir Putin to "honor his commitment" to a deal aimed at ending the Ukraine war, following U.S. concerns over Moscow's reliability.  

"I want to ensure he follows through," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I believe he will stand by what he told me and fulfill his part of the agreement."  

On Sunday, Trump criticized both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky while advocating for an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Speaking to NBC, he expressed frustration with Putin for questioning Zelensky’s credibility in negotiations and for advocating a change in Ukraine's leadership.  

Earlier this month, Putin rejected a U.S.-backed proposal for an unconditional ceasefire, which Zelensky had supported. Instead, Moscow intensified rhetoric on installing new leadership in Ukraine. On Sunday, NBC journalist Kristen Walker reported that Trump called her, stating he was "pissed off" at Putin and warning of potential tariffs on firms dealing with Russian oil.  

Trump also turned his attention to Zelensky, cautioning that Ukraine would face "serious consequences" if it hesitated to sign over mineral rights to the U.S. as part of the proposed deal.  

Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed on Monday that Putin remains open to discussions with Trump. Though no phone call was scheduled, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated a conversation could be "organized promptly" if needed.  

"We are actively working on initiatives related to resolving the Ukraine conflict," Peskov stated. "It is a complex and time-consuming process."