President Donald Trump said that during the peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine he has found it tougher to deal with Volodymyr Zelensky’s government.

“On Russia, if I may, President Putin is bombing Ukraine. Do you still believe him when he tells you that he wants peace?” a reporter asked the president when he spoke in the Oval Office.

“Yeah, no, I believe him, I believe him. I think we’re doing very well with Russia. But right now they’re bombing the hell out of Ukraine. I’m finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine,” the president said.

“And they don’t have the cards. They don’t have the cards. As you know, we’re meeting in Saudi Arabia sometime next week, early. And we’re talking. I find that in terms of getting a final settlement, it may be easier dealing with Russia, which is surprising because they have all the cards. And they’re bombing the hell out of them right now,” he said.

“And I put a statement in, a very strong statement. Can’t do that, can’t do that. We’re trying to help them. And Ukraine has to get on the ball and get a job done. And, Michael, could you come up here? I see Michael back there,” the president said.

“Good, I’m glad. He’s traveling all over the world. I just saw him come in the door. Could you give a little definition of what’s going on, please? Sure,” Trump continued..

National Security adviser Mike Waltz said  that the president “has been clear to all sides. The fighting has to stop. Both sides need to get to the table.”

“I think both parties want to settle. I think if I wasn’t President, this war would have had no chance of settlement. Zero chance,” President Trump said.

“But I think we’re going to get it settled and stopped. We’ve got to stop. They’re losing, on average, 2,000 soldiers a week. That’s a lot of soldiers. Do you agree, Peter?” he said.