Escalating Tensions between Trump and Zelenskyy Amidst Peace Negotiations
Former President Donald Trump has addressed the escalating tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing frustration with the ongoing conflict and criticizing Zelenskyy’s negotiation skills.
During an interview on ‘The Brian Kilmeade Show,’ Trump voiced his discontent with Zelenskyy’s handling of the negotiations. He accused Zelenskyy of having "no cards" to negotiate leverage, despite the constant insults and accusations exchanged between the two leaders in recent days.
"I’ve been watching this man for years now as his cities get demolished, as his people get killed, as his soldiers get decimated," Trump told Kilmeade. "I’ve been watching him negotiate with no cards. He has no cards, and you get sick of it. You just get sick of it, and I’ve had it."
Trump argued that Zelenskyy is a poor negotiator, highlighting the recent trip by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to Ukraine to broker a mineral agreement. Despite the potential for a multi-billion dollar deal, Trump claimed that the pair "couldn’t even come close" to an agreement. He labeled the trip as dangerous for Bessent and a waste of time.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials traveled to Saudi Arabia to discuss a possible peace deal with Russian counterparts, a meeting to which Ukraine was not invited. The delegation, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Vladimir Putin’s foreign affairs advisor, Yuri Ushakov, to hash out ways to end the conflict.
Zelenskyy expressed his displeasure with the meeting, stating that "nobody decides anything behind our back." He emphasized that Kyiv would not agree to any peace negotiations without Ukraine’s input.
Trump responded with exasperation, stating, "I get tired of listening to it. I’ve seen it enough, and then he complains that he’s not at a meeting that we’re having with Saudi Arabia trying to intermediate peace." He argued that Zelenskyy had ample opportunity to negotiate during the previous three years but had failed to achieve any significant progress.
"He makes it very hard to make deals," Trump said.
U.S. officials have also met with Ukrainian officials regarding a peace agreement. Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg emphasized the U.S.’s commitment to ending the war and establishing "sustainable peace."
Trump attributed the war to former President Biden’s inability to negotiate with Putin. He described Biden as "very dumb" and lacking the necessary skills to prevent the conflict. Trump claimed that Biden’s statements and actions exacerbated the situation, leading Putin to decide to invade Ukraine.
"Putin could have been talked out of that so easy," Trump said. "But [Biden] said all the wrong things — and I’m not trying to make Putin like nicer or better — I’m just telling you the fact that war should have never happened. Putin would have never gone in."
Trump now believes that a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia is only possible because he is back in office. He claimed that the parties are only talking because of his involvement and that Russia would continue to advance through Ukraine in his absence.
"They only want to talk because of me," Trump said. "If I wasn’t involved, they wouldn’t be talking to each other, and Russia would continue to… go through Ukraine… They’ve taken a lot of land, and Russia would continue the march through Ukraine. If it wasn’t for me, they wouldn’t be talking at all. I’m the only reason they’re talking."
Trump’s statements reflect his ongoing criticism of Zelenskyy and his handling of the war. The former president has repeatedly accused Zelenskyy of being a weak leader and has criticized the U.S. government’s support for Ukraine. It remains to be seen how the ongoing negotiations will progress and whether Trump’s involvement will ultimately lead to a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
