### Trump Compares Russia-Ukraine Conflict to Quarreling Children

During a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the Oval Office, President Trump drew a controversial parallel between the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and two children embroiled in a playground fight. As Chancellor Merz looked on in silence, Trump articulated his stance that the United States was powerless to halt the war at this moment.

"Sometimes you see two young children fighting like crazy," Trump remarked. "They hate each other, and they're fighting in a park, and you try and pull them apart. They don't want to be pulled. Sometimes you're better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart." He further revealed that he had shared this analogy with Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that prolonged suffering might be necessary before any intervention could be effective.

Chancellor Merz, who assumed office just last month, visited Washington with the hope of persuading President Trump to adopt a more proactive stance in aiding Ukraine against Russian aggression. Despite these efforts, President Trump maintained that resolving the conflict was beyond U.S. capability at this juncture.

Throughout his campaign, Trump promised he would secure peace between Russia and Ukraine within 24 hours, a claim he now admits was made sarcastically. Four months into his second term, President Trump's rhetoric has shifted notably. When queried about the possibility of imposing further sanctions on Russia, Trump hesitated, suggesting that he would recognize the right moment to increase pressure but that it had not yet arrived.

In a series of equivocal statements, President Trump essentially positioned himself as a bystander to the ongoing conflict, leaving both Germans and Ukrainians uncertain about future U.S. involvement.