Trump insists Russia refusal to meet Ukraine’s Zelensky ‘doesn’t matter’: ‘It’s all bulls—‘

WASHINGTON — President Trump brushed off weekend remarks by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov calling into question “illegitimate” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s legal ability to sign a peace deal.

“Doesn’t matter what they say. Everybody’s posturing. It’s all bulls—, OK? Everybody’s posturing,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday when asked about the Russia diplomat’s statements in an interview with NBC’s “Meet The Press.”

Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff piped up to add: “I agree with you, sir.”

Russia has long claimed Zelensky is not the “legitimate” ruler of Ukraine — but Lavrov’s remarks raised eyebrows as he directly said Russian President Vladimir Putin would not sign any deal with the Ukrainian leader. 

“We recognize him as the de facto head of the regime, and in this capacity we are ready to meet with him,” Lavrov said.

“But when it comes to signing legal documents … we would need very clear understanding by everybody that the person who is signing is legitimate.”

Trump, 79, has been pushing Putin, 72, and Zelensky, 47, to meet for weeks to discuss a final peace deal to end the 42-year-old war, but Russia has repeatedly put up roadblocks and insisted on additional concession.

Despite the urgency from Trump and Zelensky, Lavrov has said he wants to see a “presidential agenda” agreed to before Putin sits face-to-face with Zelensky — forcing Ukraine to make agreements before even meeting. 

Some of those “agenda” items include Ukraine giving up on ever joining NATO and repealing a Kyiv law stating that Russian can never be an official language, Lavrov said. 

Trump has remained optimistic that both belligerents will meet eventually, but has repeatedly expressed frustration with Putin for refusing to stop missile strikes — again threatening Tuesday to slap further economic sanctions on Russia if it refuses to cooperate.