Trump Warns Zelensky: Ukraine War Deal Possible Without Him
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Synopsis
US President Trump cautioned Zelensky that a resolution to the Ukraine War might be achieved with Russia independently of Ukraine's involvement, igniting further tensions between the two leaders.
Key Takeaways
- Trump claims he can negotiate peace with Russia.
- Zelensky's absence from negotiations raises concerns.
- Trump accuses Zelensky of leading the US into an unwinnable war.
- Russia holds significant territory in Ukraine.
- NATO membership for Ukraine is deemed unrealistic.
New York, Feb 20 (NationPress) As their escalating exchange continued, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky that a resolution to the ongoing three-year Ukraine War might be reached with Russia without his involvement.
Zelensky "better act swiftly or he could end up without a nation," Trump stated on Truth Social on Wednesday.
"We are effectively working towards ending the War with Russia, something that only 'TRUMP' and the Trump Administration can accomplish," he added.
This ultimatum followed Zelensky's complaints regarding Ukraine's absence at negotiations between US and Russian diplomats in Riyadh, asserting that his nation would reject any peace agreement made without its input.
In a personal jab at Trump, Zelensky remarked to reporters in Kyiv that Trump was "entangled in a web of misinformation".
Trump retorted that Zelensky was a "dictator without elections".
Previously, Trump had accused Ukraine of instigating the war, despite Russia being the aggressor.
Trump's label of Zelensky as a "dictator" relates to Ukraine's suspension of elections due to the conflict following his five-year term.
As a key financier and supporter of Ukraine's military efforts, Trump seems to believe he can independently persuade Kyiv to accept peace terms negotiated with Vladimir Putin, Russia's President.
On Tuesday, delegations led by Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio deliberated for over four hours on strategies to conclude the war, with both sides noting some advancements.
Rubio mentioned that Russia was open to a "serious process" to expedite the war's conclusion, while Lavrov referred to the discussions as "productive".
A secondary outcome of the talks was the agreement to restore their embassies to full operational capacities, given their current limited diplomatic presence.
In his Truth Social commentary, Trump stated that the US was shouldering a disproportionate burden compared to Europe in supporting Ukraine.
He remarked, "Zelensky persuaded the United States to allocate $350 Billion towards an unwinnable war that never should have commenced, and without the US and 'TRUMP', a resolution will remain out of reach for him."
Given that European nations share borders with Ukraine, unlike the US, which is separated by an ocean, their contributions and that of the US should align.
Trump also criticized his predecessor Joe Biden, claiming that Zelensky "manipulated him effortlessly" and that Biden failed to pursue peace.
Currently, Russia occupies approximately 20 percent of Ukraine's territory, while Kyiv has regained only a minor portion of Russian-held land near Kursk.
In any potential peace agreement, it is improbable that Ukraine would reclaim all its territory.
US Defence Minister Pete Hegseth stated that it would be unrealistic for Ukraine to revert to its pre-2014 borders, following Russia's annexation of Crimea and subsequent territorial gains since the conflict began in 2022.
He also dismissed the prospect of NATO membership for Ukraine.
