Trump accuses Zelenskyy of harming peace talks on Ukraine war and tells him to ‘get it done’

Donald Trump has claimed a deal to end Russia’s war on Ukraine is “very close” as he heaped pressure on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to “get it done”.

Hours after US secretary of state Marco Rubio withdrew from high-level talks in London on ending the conflict, the American president appeared to vent frustration about Mr Zelenskyy on his Truth Social platform.

“We are very close to a deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE,” Mr Trump said.

“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!”

Ukraine war latest: ‘We are very close to deal’, Trump claims

Mr Trump also criticised Mr Zelenskyy for telling the Wall Street Journal that Ukraine would not accept giving up Crimea as part of a peace deal with Russia.

And he accused the Ukrainian president of harming peace negotiations with “inflammatory statements”.

Reports say that the US president’s seven-point peace plan to end the war includes a proposal that America would formally recognise Russian sovereignty over Crimea – which was annexed in 2014 and which Ukraine maintains is its territory.

“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this war,” Mr Trump added. “He has nothing to boast about!

“The situation for Ukraine is dire – He can have peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country.”

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Speaking later at the White House on Wednesday, Mr Trump said: “I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelenskyy.

“I thought Zelenskyy would be easier to deal with, but so far it’s harder. I think we have a deal with both.”

Asked if he was planning to meet Mr Putin soon in Saudi Arabia, he said “probably not, but I hope to meet with him soon thereafter”.

The peace plan, reported by US media over the weekend, would freeze the frontlines in Ukraine as part of the agreement.

London talks on ending war downgraded

It comes after Mr Rubio withdrew from a planned meeting in London on Wednesday, which the UK’s Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey did attend.

The downgraded talks were also attended by Keith Kellogg, the US envoy for Ukraine, along with other officials from France, Germany and Ukraine.

Mr Rubio said last week that the US may “walk away” from negotiations due to a lack of progress with Russia and Ukraine – a warning now repeated by vice president JD Vance.

The UK Foreign Office said in a statement that there had been significant progress at the talks on Wednesday, and added: “All parties reiterated their strong support for President Trump’s commitment to stopping the killing and achieving a just and lasting peace.”

Read more:
One notable absence in Trump’s post on Zelenskyy – analysis
‘Trump will walk away from peace talks in two weeks’ | Michael Clarke Q&A

‘Emotions have run high’ – Zelenskyy

On Wednesday evening, the Ukrainian president said “emotions have run high today” but stressed all sides “expressed their views and respectfully received each other’s positions” during the London talks.

Mr Zelenskyy said on social media: “The American side shared its vision. Ukraine and other Europeans presented their inputs.

“And we hope that it is exactly such joint work that will lead to lasting peace.”

He also said, however, that “Ukraine will always act in accordance with its constitution,”.

And he posted a screenshot of the Crimea Declaration – which says the US refuses to recognise Russia’s claim to Crimea – made by former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo in 2018, during Mr Trump’s first term as president.

It also comes after Ukrainian officials said nine people were killed and almost 50 injured in the city of Marhanets after a Russian drone hit a bus carrying workers on Wednesday morning.

Russia also launched “a massive” drone attack on the central Ukrainian region of Poltava, injuring at least six people, the emergency service said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.