US President Donald Trump on Wednesday made a bold claim that Russia is willing to end the Ukraine war, but pointed fingers at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for allegedly stalling the peace process by refusing to part with Crimea, the territory Russia has controlled since 2014.
“I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelensky,” Trump said during a media interaction in the Oval Office.
“I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far, it’s been harder.”
Trump Targets Zelensky Over Crimea
Trump sharply criticised Zelensky for refusing to give up Crimea as part of a proposed US-negotiated peace deal, calling his stance responsible for continued bloodshed.
Earlier that day, Trump accused Zelensky of “prolonging the killing field”, suggesting that the war could have ended if Ukraine had agreed to Russia’s terms involving the peninsula.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated:
“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.”
Trump further blamed Zelensky for “millions of deaths”, asking why Ukraine hadn’t resisted Crimea’s annexation in 2014 if it was such a critical issue.
Zelensky Responds: “Crimea Is Our Land”
Ukrainian President Zelensky stood firm, reiterating that Crimea belongs to Ukraine and rejecting any compromise that involves handing it over to Russia.
“There is nothing to talk about—it is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” Zelensky declared ahead of a trilateral meeting with European and US officials in London.
He added that Ukraine is open to “any format of negotiations” that can lead to an immediate ceasefire and a roadmap to lasting peace.
No Plans to Meet Zelensky at Global Gathering
Trump also said he’s unsure whether he would meet Zelensky or other European leaders during his visit to Italy for Pope Francis’ funeral. This uncertainty further signals a lack of coordination in US-led peace efforts.
Meanwhile, Western European nations and Ukraine have accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of deliberately delaying a ceasefire while his forces continue attempts to seize more Ukrainian territory.
With tensions high and narratives clashing, Trump’s assertion of a possible deal with Russia and his criticism of Zelensky place the Ukraine peace process at a new crossroads—one marked by political pressure, territorial pride, and global consequences.
