President Donald Trump has voiced strong criticism against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his recent remarks suggesting that the end of the ongoing war with Russia might still be far off. This situation arises amidst mounting pressure from Trump’s allies for Zelenskyy to alter his approach towards the U.S. president or step down. Relations between the two leaders have reached their lowest point following a tense meeting at the White House. During this meeting, Trump and Vice President JD Vance expressed their dissatisfaction over Zelenskyy not being adequately appreciative of U.S. support since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Trump took to his Truth Social platform to express his anger over Zelenskyy’s recent comments in London, stating, “This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!” Later, at another White House event, Trump commented on Zelenskyy’s remarks, emphasizing that the Ukrainian leader “better not be right about that.” He warned that those unwilling to make a deal “won’t be around very long.”
The American president was disgruntled by Zelenskyy’s insinuation that resolving the war would require significant time. Meanwhile, Zelenskyy attempted to present a positive perspective on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship post their White House discussion. While answering a query about a new European initiative aimed at ending the conflict, Zelenskyy explained, “We are talking about the first steps today, and, therefore, until they are on paper, I would not like to talk about them in great detail.” However, he noted that an agreement to end the war is a long way off.
Zelenskyy’s remarks only added to Trump’s frustration, as Trump believed that Zelenskyy’s statement suggested a reluctance for peace, as long as the U.S. and Europe remain supportive. A visibly exasperated Trump questioned the strategic strength of Zelenskyy’s comments, “Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia,” he stated.
In response, Zelenskyy did not directly address Trump’s criticism. Instead, he took to social media to stress the importance of meaningful diplomacy to conclude the war swiftly. He highlighted, “We need real peace and Ukrainians want it most because the war ruins our cities and towns. We need to stop the war and to guarantee security.”
Separately, Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, expressed doubts regarding the future of U.S.-Ukraine relations, questioning whether Zelenskyy is politically and personally equipped to lead Ukraine towards the end of the hostilities. Waltz cast further uncertainty over continued U.S. support in light of the tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy.
Adding to the critical voices was House Speaker Mike Johnson, who urged Zelenskyy to show gratitude and return to the negotiating table, or suggest a leadership change in Ukraine. Similarly, Senator Lindsey Graham, a staunch ally of Trump and advocate for Ukraine, suggested that Zelenskyy should either resign or change his approach to facilitate more fruitful engagement.
Amidst the discord, Angela Stent, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, opined that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely comfortable prolonging the war, observing the fractures in relations between Trump, Zelenskyy, and their European partners. She noted that Putin perceives momentum in Russia’s favor and anticipates a more divided West over time.
During Zelenskyy’s American visit, there were plans to sign a deal granting the U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral resources, partly as repayment for the substantial aid provided by the U.S. since the conflict began. Such a deal was also intended to strengthen long-term U.S.-Ukraine relations. However, after the contentious Oval Office talks, the signing was abruptly halted, with White House officials asking the Ukrainian delegation to leave.
Despite the setbacks, Trump remains optimistic about the economic pact, referring to it as “a great deal” and expressing plans to discuss it further in his upcoming address to Congress.
