Politics
Trump Explodes On Zelenskyy For ‘Very Harmful’ Move Amid Peace Talks
President Donald Trump couldn’t contain his outrage at Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy, excoriating the wartime rabble-rouser for making “inflammatory” remarks about peace negotiations with Russia.
In a Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump took aim at Zelenskyy for knocking his proposal to grant Russia control of eastern Ukrainian territory under its control in exchange for a European security apparatus dedicated to protecting Ukraine from future incursions. The deal would see Russia gain permanent control of the Crimean peninsula which it seized from Ukraine in 2014.
“Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea,” Zelensky said at a press conference on Tuesday. “There’s nothing to talk about here. This is against our constitution.”
Such remarks are “very harmful” at a delicate time, Trump wrote.
“This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion,” he added. “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”
The situation facing Zelenskyy and his country is “dire,” Trump went on.
“He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”
“The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with “no cards to play” should now, finally, GET IT DONE. 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!”
The salvo by Trump is practically a rehashing of the grievances he aired back in February when he upbraided Zelenskyy in front of the national press corps while they sat together in the Oval Office.
At the same time, he has expressed dismay at Russian President Vladimir Putin for resuming bombing on Kyiv, including some of the worst devastation the capital city has experienced since the start of the war more than three years ago.
“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!” Trump wrote on Thursday.
“I didn’t like last night, I wasn’t happy with it,” Trump said in a separate press briefing. “We’re putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that.”
U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to carry on further peace talks with Putin on Friday, according to NBC News. A meeting among European leaders about future support for Ukraine was downgraded after the withdrawal of Witkoff and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Earlier this week, Vice President J.D. Vance issued both countries an ultimatum: Get serious about peace negotiations, or the U.S. will walk away altogether.
“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say ‘yes’ or for the United States to walk away from this process,” said Vance.
