President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States had secured a peace deal with Russia over the war in Ukraine, but claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was standing in the way. “I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelensky. I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far it’s been harder,” Trump told reporters at the White House, according to AFP.
At the centre of the dispute is a U.S.-drafted proposal that calls for Ukraine to accept the loss of territory seized by Russia since 2014, including Crimea, and to abandon its bid to join NATO. In return, Ukraine would receive only vague commitments of support.
Zelenskyy firmly rejected the idea. “There’s nothing to talk about here,” he said during a press conference. “This is against our constitution. This is our territory, the territory of Ukraine.”
Trump escalates pressure: ‘Stop the killing’
Trump has pushed hard for a quick resolution. He used his Truth Social platform to label Zelenskyy’s comments as “inflammatory” and damaging to peace efforts. “He’s prolonging the killing field,” Trump wrote.
The former president, who has long promised to end the war “within 24 hours” if re-elected, framed Ukraine’s resistance as an obstacle to peace. “Crimea was lost years ago and is not even a point of discussion,” he said.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, saying Trump’s “patience is running very thin” and that Zelenskyy “seems to be moving in the wrong direction.”
Vice President Vance: Accept the deal or U.S. walks away
Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters during a trip to India, added further pressure by warning that the U.S. might withdraw from the peace process if Ukraine does not agree. “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,” he said.
Vance described the plan as one that “freezes territorial lines at some level close to where they are today” and called for a “long-term diplomatic settlement.”
“The only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons, to freeze this thing,” he added.
Backroom talks stall, diplomacy falters
Despite ongoing discussions, diplomacy has hit roadblocks. Talks in London on Wednesday, involving U.S., Ukrainian and European officials, were overshadowed by the absence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. The cancellations weakened hopes of a unified Western stance.
Witkoff had previously outlined proposals in Paris that demanded more concessions from Ukraine than Russia, according to diplomats present. These included U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian, acceptance of Russia’s current territorial gains, and blocking Ukraine from ever joining NATO.
Keith Kellogg, another of Trump’s envoys, said after the London talks: “It’s time to move forward on President Trump’s UKR-RU war directive: stop the killing, achieve peace, and put America First.”
Zelenskyy digs in: ‘It is our land’
Ukraine’s position has remained consistent. “There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” Zelenskyy declared on Tuesday, ahead of the London talks.
Following the tense meeting, Zelenskyy acknowledged the emotional tone of discussions but remained hopeful. “Each side contributed meaningfully,” he wrote online. “It is this joint work that can lead to lasting peace.”
He attached a 2018 declaration by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which reads: “The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.”
Trump’s envoy to meet Putin again
Meanwhile, U.S. official Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin again on Friday. This will be their fourth direct meeting to discuss the conflict, signalling that Washington’s approach under Trump may be shifting towards direct negotiation with Moscow.
The White House has confirmed the trip and said the goal remains “to stop the killing and achieve a just and lasting peace.”
A joint statement from Britain, France and Germany, released after the London talks, said all sides had reaffirmed their commitment to Trump’s peace effort and noted that “significant progress was made on reaching a common position on next steps.”
But with Ukraine refusing to surrender territory and Trump signalling a willingness to leave Kyiv behind, the road to peace remains uncertain.
(With inputs from Agencies)
At the centre of the dispute is a U.S.-drafted proposal that calls for Ukraine to accept the loss of territory seized by Russia since 2014, including Crimea, and to abandon its bid to join NATO. In return, Ukraine would receive only vague commitments of support.
Zelenskyy firmly rejected the idea. “There’s nothing to talk about here,” he said during a press conference. “This is against our constitution. This is our territory, the territory of Ukraine.”
Trump escalates pressure: ‘Stop the killing’
Trump has pushed hard for a quick resolution. He used his Truth Social platform to label Zelenskyy’s comments as “inflammatory” and damaging to peace efforts. “He’s prolonging the killing field,” Trump wrote.
The former president, who has long promised to end the war “within 24 hours” if re-elected, framed Ukraine’s resistance as an obstacle to peace. “Crimea was lost years ago and is not even a point of discussion,” he said.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt echoed this sentiment, saying Trump’s “patience is running very thin” and that Zelenskyy “seems to be moving in the wrong direction.”
Vice President Vance: Accept the deal or U.S. walks away
Vice President JD Vance, speaking to reporters during a trip to India, added further pressure by warning that the U.S. might withdraw from the peace process if Ukraine does not agree. “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,” he said.
Vance described the plan as one that “freezes territorial lines at some level close to where they are today” and called for a “long-term diplomatic settlement.”
“The only way to really stop the killing is for the armies to both put down their weapons, to freeze this thing,” he added.
Backroom talks stall, diplomacy falters
Despite ongoing discussions, diplomacy has hit roadblocks. Talks in London on Wednesday, involving U.S., Ukrainian and European officials, were overshadowed by the absence of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff. The cancellations weakened hopes of a unified Western stance.
Witkoff had previously outlined proposals in Paris that demanded more concessions from Ukraine than Russia, according to diplomats present. These included U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian, acceptance of Russia’s current territorial gains, and blocking Ukraine from ever joining NATO.
Keith Kellogg, another of Trump’s envoys, said after the London talks: “It’s time to move forward on President Trump’s UKR-RU war directive: stop the killing, achieve peace, and put America First.”
Zelenskyy digs in: ‘It is our land’
Ukraine’s position has remained consistent. “There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people,” Zelenskyy declared on Tuesday, ahead of the London talks.
Following the tense meeting, Zelenskyy acknowledged the emotional tone of discussions but remained hopeful. “Each side contributed meaningfully,” he wrote online. “It is this joint work that can lead to lasting peace.”
He attached a 2018 declaration by former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, which reads: “The United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.”
Trump’s envoy to meet Putin again
Meanwhile, U.S. official Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin again on Friday. This will be their fourth direct meeting to discuss the conflict, signalling that Washington’s approach under Trump may be shifting towards direct negotiation with Moscow.
The White House has confirmed the trip and said the goal remains “to stop the killing and achieve a just and lasting peace.”
A joint statement from Britain, France and Germany, released after the London talks, said all sides had reaffirmed their commitment to Trump’s peace effort and noted that “significant progress was made on reaching a common position on next steps.”
But with Ukraine refusing to surrender territory and Trump signalling a willingness to leave Kyiv behind, the road to peace remains uncertain.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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