Waltz: Concerns of Trump being played by Putin "laughable."

US national security adviser Mike Waltz dismissed a question about whether President Trump is being manipulated by Russian leader Vladimir Putin. During an interview on Fox News, Waltz responded, calling the idea "almost laughable" and expressed confidence in Trump's ability to handle global leaders. Currently, a proposed 30-day ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict is facing delays. Trump and Putin are scheduled to speak on Tuesday. Putin has stated that any ceasefire would allow Ukraine to prepare its military further. Waltz emphasized that only Trump can effectively negotiate a resolution, suggesting that diplomacy will include both incentives and pressures. He noted the complexities of international relations and the need for a lasting solution. The discussion followed a report from the Washington Post, suggesting that Russian intelligence is looking to weaken U.S. negotiations by fostering tensions with European allies. According to a Kremlin document, Russia has set demanding conditions for ending the conflict, projecting that peace cannot be achieved before 2026. Meanwhile, European leaders like UK’s Kier Starmer and France’s Emmanuel Macron are developing independent strategies to support Ukraine. Russia has made it clear that it wants Ukraine to remain neutral and has opposed NATO expanding its presence in the region. The situation remains tense as Western allies question Russia's intentions, with Macron asserting that Ukraine’s military requests should not be subject to Russian approval.