On Wednesday, U.S. President Donald Trump said a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine is “very close,” but he sharply criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, blaming him for delaying progress. Trump’s comments followed reports that the United States may accept Russia’s control of Crimea as part of a peace agreement.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump argued that Zelensky’s recent remarks made negotiations harder. According to Trump, statements like Zelensky’s are “making it so difficult to settle this war.” His reaction came after Zelensky told The Wall Street Journal that giving up Crimea would go against Ukraine’s constitution. Zelensky was quoted as saying Ukraine would never legally recognize Russia’s control of Crimea and insisted, “There is nothing to talk about here.”
Trump responded by calling the comment harmful to the peace process. He questioned why Ukraine hadn’t fought for Crimea in 2014 when Russia annexed it without resistance. He suggested that Zelensky’s stance would only extend the conflict and prevent a peaceful resolution.
“We are very close to a deal,” Trump added, urging Zelensky to act. “The man with no cards to play should now, finally, get it done.”
The former president’s remarks echo Vice President JD Vance’s earlier statements, indicating that territorial compromises may be necessary for any deal to succeed.
Trump’s criticism highlights ongoing tensions over how to approach Russia’s annexation of Crimea and raises fresh questions about how much Ukraine may be pressured to concede to end the war.
