U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, asserting that Zelensky’s involvement is not essential in peace talks to resolve the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump revealed that he has held “productive discussions” with Russian President Vladimir Putin but has struggled to achieve similar progress with Ukraine. The U.S. is actively working to broker a deal to end the three-year war.
Despite his earlier comments, Trump later suggested that both Zelensky and Putin would need to collaborate to bring the conflict to a close. This marks a shift from his previous stance, where he labeled Zelensky a “dictator with elections” after the Ukrainian leader criticized being excluded from U.S.-Russia negotiations.
“I don’t think it’s crucial for him to be in these meetings,” Trump stated during the Fox News interview. “He’s been involved for three years, and he makes it very difficult to reach agreements.” Trump also claimed that Ukrainian leaders “lack leverage” in the negotiations.
“I’ve had very good talks with Putin, but my discussions with Ukraine haven’t been as successful. They don’t have any cards to play, yet they act tough. We won’t let this situation continue,” Trump told U.S. governors during a meeting at the White House on Friday.
Escalating Tensions Between Trump and Zelensky
The tension between Trump and Zelensky reached new heights when the U.S. president called Zelensky a “dictator” and falsely accused Ukraine of starting the war.
“He complains about not being included in our meeting with Saudi Arabia to mediate peace,” Trump said during his Friday interview. He added that Zelensky had been part of discussions for three years without achieving any progress. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump hinted that Kyiv might soon sign a deal granting Washington preferential access to Ukraine’s mineral resources.
“They are incredibly brave in every way, but we’re spending our resources on a country that’s very far away,” Trump remarked about Ukraine.
According to AFP, Trump is pushing for U.S. companies to gain access to Ukraine’s vast natural resources as compensation for the billions of dollars in aid provided under his predecessor, Joe Biden. In exchange, Ukraine is seeking security guarantees from the U.S. for relinquishing these rights. Zelensky, who has rejected the proposed agreement, expressed hope for a “fair outcome” on Friday.
Trump Criticizes Macron and Starmer Ahead of Key Meetings
Trump also targeted French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, both of whom are scheduled to visit the White House next week for potentially contentious discussions. He accused them of failing to contribute to ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Macron stated on Friday that he would caution Trump against showing weakness in dealings with Putin.
“They haven’t done anything. Macron is a friend of mine, and I’ve met with the Prime Minister, who is a very nice guy, but nobody has taken any meaningful action,” Trump said.
Starmer, meanwhile, faces pressure to adopt a firm stance with Trump regarding support for Ukraine during his visit. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey accused Trump of orchestrating a “betrayal of Ukraine” by allegedly aligning with Putin and urged Starmer to address the issue “honestly and openly,” as reported by PA Media.
Ukraine Seeks Security Guarantees in U.S. Resource Deal
According to AFP, Trump is pushing for U.S. companies to gain access to Ukraine’s vast natural resources as compensation for the billions of dollars in aid provided under his predecessor, Joe Biden. In exchange, Ukraine is seeking security guarantees from the U.S. for relinquishing these rights. Zelensky, who has rejected the proposed agreement, expressed hope for a “fair outcome” on Friday.
Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks Exclude Ukraine
Earlier this week, Russian and top diplomats met in Saudi Arabia to discuss a potential ceasefire, but Ukraine was notably absent from the talks. This exclusion has further strained relations between Trump and Zelensky, with the Ukrainian president criticizing the lack of representation in critical negotiations.