Former U.S. President Donald Trump made strong remarks on Wednesday, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the ongoing war with Russia. Trump said that Zelenskyy’s refusal to consider ceding Crimea is turning Ukraine into a “killing field” and blocking a possible path to peace.
Trump Says Zelenskyy’s Stand on Crimea Is Prolonging the War
Zelenskyy had earlier rejected any proposal that would involve giving away Ukrainian land, including Crimea. Speaking ahead of a peace-focused meeting in London, he stated clearly, “There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people.” In response, Trump said on social media that Zelenskyy’s position is “very harmful” to the negotiations.
Trump added, “No one is requesting that Zelenskyy acknowledge Crimea as Russian territory, but if he truly wants it, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was given to Russia without a single shot fired?”
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, when Russian forces entered the region and took control. Soon after, Russia-backed rebels started fighting Ukrainian forces in the eastern parts of the country.
Ukraine’s Precision Strike Shatters Russia’s Elite $7M Drone Command Base in Kursk
U.S. Peace Proposal and Rising Frustrations
The situation became more tense during recent peace efforts. Last week in Paris, U.S. officials reportedly presented a proposal to European partners. This plan suggested freezing the current battle lines and allowing Russia to keep some of the territory it currently holds, including Crimea.
According to Trump, an agreement was imminent and Ukraine had the option of choosing peace right away or “fighting for another three years before losing the whole country.” Zelenskyy’s refusal to make concessions, he underlined, would simply “prolong the killing field,” which “nobody wants.”
The talks were at a turning point, U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters at the same time. While visiting India, Vance said the U.S. had offered a “very fair proposal” and it was time for both Ukraine and Russia to make a decision.
According to him, the suggested deal would freeze territorial control close to the current front lines, possibly solidifying Russia’s hold over parts of eastern Ukraine and Crimea, with both sides giving up some land.
White House Bombshell in Paris: U.S. Floats Crimea Concession to End Russia-Ukraine War
However, details of the proposal were not made public. Vance added that the United States might step away from the peace talks if there was no progress soon.
Additionally, Trump claimed that working with Zelenskyy was more challenging than working with Russian leaders. He specifically criticized Zelenskyy’s firm stance on Crimea, saying it was blocking chances for peace. Trump also said that although he will soon be visiting Rome, he was unsure if he would have the opportunity to meet Zelenskyy or any other European leaders. Additionally, he hinted at a potential Middle East meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin either next month or shortly thereafter.
At the Paris conference, the U.S. referred to the plan as “final,” according to a European diplomat participating in the negotiations. However, the same official said that, earlier, the Americans had called it “just ideas,” which led to confusion among Ukrainian officials, particularly over the proposal’s implications for Crimea and other occupied territories.
Casualties Continue While Talks Struggle
On the same day as the London meeting, a deadly attack occurred in Ukraine. A Russian drone hit a bus in Marganets, a town in eastern Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region. Nine civilians were killed, including eight women. More than 40 others were injured. Photos shared online showed shattered windows and bloodstains on the bus floor.
Ukraine’s Fearless F-16 Missions Now Shadowed by Dangerous S-400 Defenses
Zelenskyy responded by calling again for an “immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire.” He said that Ukraine was ready for talks in any format that could stop the war and move toward peace. Despite this, he blamed Russia for dragging out the talks to buy more time for its military operations.
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that Wednesday’s meeting in London would involve lower-level officials only, after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio canceled his attendance due to scheduling conflicts. This cancellation raised doubts about how serious the negotiations are.
Still, a Ukrainian delegation led by top officials including Zelenskyy’s Chief of Staff Andrii Yermak attended the talks. Yermak said they were committed to peace and would work with the international community to reach a ceasefire. He said that Ukraine remained committed to the U.S.-led peace efforts, but accused Russia of refusing to agree to a full ceasefire and manipulating the negotiations.
Trump has long said that he could end the war within 24 hours if he returned to office. However, he has grown frustrated with both Zelenskyy and Putin over the slow pace of negotiations. Some of America’s European allies are also uneasy about any peace deal that requires Ukraine to give up land, especially as Russia now controls parts of five Ukrainian regions: Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
A French official involved in the talks said that if a ceasefire is the immediate goal, it should be based on the current front lines. But as the fighting continues with no pause in sight, even a short 30-day truce has proven impossible to secure.