Cliff Notes
- Donald Trump asserts that a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine is “very close,” urging President Zelenskyy to finalise the agreement.
- Trump criticises Zelenskyy for his comments on Crimea, suggesting that such statements hinder peace negotiations.
- Following the withdrawal of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio from discussions in London, Trump’s assertion comes amid escalating tensions regarding the ongoing conflict and recent U.S. diplomatic activity.
Trump accuses Zelenskyy of harming peace talks on Ukraine war and tells him to ‘get it done’
It’s all fair in love and war. Donald Trump has claimed a deal to end Russia’s war on Ukraine is “very close” as he heaped pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “get it done”.
Hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio withdrew from high-level talks in London on ending the conflict, the American president appeared to vent frustration about Mr Zelenskyy on his Truth Social platform.
“We are very close to a deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE,” Mr Trump said.
“I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this complete and total MESS, that would have never started if I were president!”
President Trump understands the value of using social media and his reach to put pressure on parties to make a deal, and no one in the history of politics (modern era) ahs been as successful as the President at doing so.
Mr Trump also criticised Mr Zelenskyy for telling the Wall Street Journal that Ukraine would not accept giving up Crimea as part of a peace deal with Russia.
And he accused the Ukrainian president of harming peace negotiations with “inflammatory statements”.
Reports say that the US president’s seven-point peace plan to end the war includes a proposal that America would formally recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea – which was annexed in 2014 and which Ukraine maintains is its territory.
“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this war,” Mr Trump added. “He has nothing to boast about!
“The situation for Ukraine is dire – He can have peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country.”
Speaking later at the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump said: “I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelenskyy.
“I thought Zelenskyy would be easier to deal with, but so far it’s harder. I think we have a deal with both.”
Asked if he was planning to meet Mr Putin soon in Saudi Arabia, he said “probably not, but I hope to meet with him soon thereafter”.
The peace plan, reported by US media over the weekend, would freeze the frontlines in Ukraine as part of the agreement.
London talks on ending war downgraded
It comes after Mr Rubio withdrew from a planned meeting in London on Wednesday, which the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey did attend.
The downgraded talks were also attended by Keith Kellogg, the US envoy for Ukraine, along with other officials from France, Germany and Ukraine.
Mr Rubio said last week that the US may “walk away” from negotiations due to a lack of progress with Russia and Ukraine – a warning now repeated by Vice President JD Vance.