In response to the television host's question about whether Trump wants the resignation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Waltz stated that the American administration has not fully understood whether Zelensky is prepared for negotiations and a "good faith" resolution to the war.
"We need a leader who can engage with us, ultimately deal with the Russians, and bring this war to an end. If it becomes clear that President Zelensky's personal or political motives diverge from stopping the fighting in his country, then I think we have a real problem," Waltz said.
In an interview with Breitbart, Waltz remarked that Zelensky's demand for American security guarantees was a "performance" aimed at the audience that remains in Ukraine. The American official described this as "completely inappropriate."