Western officials told the Financial Times that U.S. President Donald Trump regards Russian President Vladimir Putin as his primary counterpart for negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine and considers Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky the chief impediment to a settlement, according to a report published 12 July. The officials said Trump’s harder public line toward Moscow—including his support for a Senate proposal to expand sanctions—has not translated into a more Ukraine-friendly policy. While the White House has discussed sending additional Patriot air-defense batteries, the sources see little evidence of a broader strategic shift. Analysts cited by the newspaper warned that viewing Zelensky as an obstacle could reshape U.S. engagement in the conflict and complicate coordination with European partners, who have urged Washington to maintain military and financial support for Kyiv.