Trump on Russia-Ukraine war: 'Let them resolve it,' eyes direct talks
Synopsis
Trump told reporters at the White House on 6 June that Russia and Ukraine should 'resolve it' themselves — without US mediators — even as a massive Ukrainian drone offensive struck St. Petersburg during Putin's own economic forum appearance. The juxtaposition of Trump stepping back diplomatically while the battlefield escalates sharply defines the current moment in the war.
Key Takeaways
Donald Trump on 6 June said he supports direct Russia-Ukraine dialogue without US mediators, telling reporters 'let them resolve it.' Zelensky's open letter proposing a direct meeting with Putin was reportedly rejected by Moscow.
A Ukrainian drone offensive struck St.
Petersburg on Saturday; Russian authorities said 86 drones were intercepted over the city.
Overnight, over 376 drones were reportedly intercepted across Russia, including 8 aimed at Moscow .
Ukrainian drones also reportedly struck the St.
Petersburg oil terminal and Kronstadt military base , located 1,100 km from Ukraine.
Pulkovo Airport operations were temporarily suspended during the attack.
US President Donald Trump on 6 June said he was open to direct dialogue between Russia and Ukraine without American mediators present, telling reporters at the White House that he believed the war would ultimately be resolved. His remarks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 'open letter' to Russian President Vladimir Putin proposing a meeting received a negative response from Moscow.
What Trump Said
'I mean, let them resolve it. I'm the person who brought them to this possibility. I think everything will be resolved,' Trump said, according to reports. He added: 'It's a war that should never have started. With me as President, it would never have started. But everything will be resolved.' Trump reiterated his position that responsibility for the conflict lies with his predecessor, Joe Biden, who was US President in 2022 when Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Thursday, Trump had separately stated he was 'happy' about the possibility of direct bilateral dialogue.
Zelensky's Letter and Moscow's Rejection
Ukrainian media, including the United 24 Media platform, reported on the exchange earlier on Friday. Zelensky's open letter had proposed a direct meeting with Putin, but the Kremlin's response was reportedly negative. The development underscores the continued diplomatic deadlock even as both sides publicly signal limited openness to talks. This comes amid broader international pressure — including from Washington — for a negotiated end to the now three-year-old conflict.
Drone Offensive Escalates Near St. Petersburg
On the ground, the conflict showed no signs of de-escalation. A large-scale Ukrainian drone offensive struck the St. Petersburg region on Saturday — the same city hosting the International Economic Forum, where Putin delivered a plenary address on Friday. Russian regional authorities said 86 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and shot down over the Baltic Sea city.
St. Petersburg Governor Aleksandr Beglov confirmed the city was 'the target of a large-scale drone attack,' urging residents to 'stay indoors and not go out.' Regional Governor Aleksandr Drozdenko wrote on Telegram: 'Combat operations continue.'
Scale of the Overnight Assault
The St. Petersburg strike was part of a broader wave of attacks. Overnight, Russian authorities reportedly intercepted over 376 drones across the entire Russian Federation, including eight directed at Moscow, according to the capital's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin. According to Moscow, Ukrainian drones had also recently struck the St. Petersburg oil terminal and the Kronstadt military base — located approximately 1,100 kilometres from the Ukrainian border. Operations at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily suspended on Saturday, as has occurred during previous offensives.
What Comes Next
Trump's hands-off framing — signalling that Washington will not serve as a mediator in direct Russia-Ukraine talks — marks a notable shift in US diplomatic posture. Whether Kyiv and Moscow can or will engage bilaterally without third-party facilitation remains deeply uncertain, particularly as drone exchanges of this scale continue. The next signal will likely come from how both capitals respond to Trump's public distancing from the mediation role.
Point of View
Washington removes the one lever that has historically moved both sides toward a table. Meanwhile, the drone exchange at the scale seen this week — 376 intercepts in a single night — signals that neither Kyiv nor Moscow is positioning for imminent compromise. The timing is also notable: striking St. Petersburg while Putin addressed the International Economic Forum is a deliberate signal from Ukraine, not an operational accident. Trump's optimism that 'everything will be resolved' sits uneasily against that reality.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Trump say about the Russia-Ukraine war on 6 June?
Trump told reporters at the White House on 6 June that Russia and Ukraine should resolve the conflict directly, without US mediators present. He said, 'I mean, let them resolve it. I'm the person who brought them to this possibility. I think everything will be resolved.'
Did Zelensky's open letter to Putin lead to any talks?
No. Ukrainian media reported that Zelensky sent an open letter to Putin proposing a direct meeting, but the Kremlin responded negatively to the proposal. No direct talks have been scheduled as of 6 June.
What happened during the drone attack on St. Petersburg?
Ukrainian drones struck the St. Petersburg region on Saturday, 6 June, while the city was hosting the International Economic Forum. Russian authorities said 86 drones were intercepted and shot down; operations at Pulkovo Airport were temporarily suspended.
How large was the overall Russian drone interception overnight?
Russian authorities reported intercepting over 376 drones across the entire Russian Federation overnight, including 8 aimed at Moscow, according to the capital's Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Why does Trump blame Joe Biden for the Russia-Ukraine war?
Trump has repeatedly stated that the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 occurred under President Joe Biden's watch, and that it would not have happened under his own presidency. He reiterated this position in his 6 June White House remarks.
