National Security Adviser Mike Waltz discussed the ongoing discussions between the Trump Administration and Presidents Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine and Vladimir Putin of Russia to end the war in a recent appearance on Fox News's Sunday Morning Futures, saying Trump is "frustrated" with the slow progress.
President Trump met with Zelenskyy in the Vatican during Pope Francis's funeral, which Waltz called "iconic. " However, he added that both sides have to want to end the war and that Trump has "expressed his frustration with both sides."
Host Maria Bartiromo asked Waltz if he believed Zelenskyy was aware that some territory might not return to Ukraine as part of a peace deal.
"There has been a number of discussions of territory, of what they need to make sure that this war never continues, that it is permanent," Waltz replied, adding, "We have talked to our European partners, whom you saw the images of both [Prime Minister Keir] Starmer from the United Kingdom and [President Emmanuel] Macron from France, that Europe has to step up."
While getting the rest of Europe to help maintain peace is going smoothly, Waltz reiterated that "next is to drive both sides to the table, but they both have to want it, and the President has expressed his frustrations in whether both sides genuinely want to end this war."
After all, Waltz cited a recent Truth Social post made by Trump after Moscow launched missiles into Kyiv, where Trump said Putin is "tapping me along."
"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days," the post began, adding, "It makes me think that maybe he doesn't want to stop the war, he's just tapping me along and has to be dealt with differently, through 'Banking' or 'Secondary Sanctions?' Too many people are dying!!!"
Bartiromo asked if Trump intended to use banking and secondary sanctions against Russia, prompting Waltz to reply, "he is determined to use both carrots and sticks to get both sides to the table."
