By Andrea Shalal
PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) – U.S. President Donald Trump dismissed Ukraine’s concern about being left out of U.S.-Russian talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the Ukraine war on Tuesday and said he would not oppose Europeans if they want to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
European leaders have discussed sending peacekeepers to provide security guarantees in the event of a peace deal.
“Having troops over there would be fine, I wouldn’t object to it at all,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach.
Trump spoke for the first time since a U.S. delegation established a working dialogue with Russia about Ukraine during talks in Riyadh earlier in the day.
He said Ukraine could have made a deal years ago and brushed aside Ukraine’s concern about being left out of the meeting, saying Ukrainians should have entered into talks much earlier.
He also blasted former President Joe Biden for his handling of Ukraine. Biden had worked to ensure Ukraine had the weapons to try to fight off the Russian invaders.
“I think I have the power to end this war,” said Trump.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Steve Holland; Editing by Sandra Maler)
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