Trump has slammed Zelensky after the Ukrainian leader rejected his peace plan. Credit: Chip Somodevilla / Getty
President Trump delivered a “dire” ultimatum to Ukraine.
He issued it after Zelensky forcefully rejected his proposed peace plan.
Trump’s peace plan, crafted with envoy General Keith Kellogg, demands major territorial concessions from Ukraine.
Kyiv would give up Crimea and parts of Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhia to Russia.
In exchange, Ukraine would keep access to the Dnipro River and a northern part of Kherson.
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant would fall under U.S. control.
Zelensky flatly rejected the plan, calling it a violation of Ukraine’s Constitution and sovereignty.
“There is nothing to talk about. This is our territory,” he told Al Jazeera.
He warned the plan would embolden Moscow.
“Talks like this only prolong the war,” he said.
Despite Kyiv’s backlash, Trump’s allies continue to push the plan.
Steve Witkoff plans to travel to Moscow to present it directly to Putin.
General Kellogg now leads the U.S. delegation after top-level London talks were downgraded.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out to head to Moscow instead.
Vice President JD Vance, speaking from India, gave a blunt warning:
“It’s time for them to either say yes
or for the United States to walk away from this process,” he told the Daily Express.
President Trump slammed Zelensky on Truth Social after The Wall Street Journal quoted the Ukrainian leader doubling down on Crimea.
Zelensky said, “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.”
Trump called the remarks “very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia.”
He said, “Crimea was lost years ago under President Barack Hussein Obama and is not even a point of discussion.”
He added, “Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory.
But if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago?”
Trump warned Zelenskyy’s refusal to compromise could doom peace efforts.
“It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that make it so difficult to settle this War,” he wrote.
“He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire.
He can have Peace or fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.”
Trump said he aims to stop the bloodshed:
“I have nothing to do with Russia,
but I want to save five thousand soldiers a week on both sides who are dying for no reason.”
He issued a grim warning:
“Zelenskyy’s statement will only prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that!”
“We are very close to a Deal,
but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE.”
Trump ended by stressing his goal of peace:
“I look forward to helping Ukraine and Russia escape this Complete and Total MESS,
which would’ve never started if I were President!”
Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s peace stance on Telegram:
“Ukraine has repeatedly said it doesn’t exclude any format that can lead to a ceasefire and real peace.
Stopping the killings is the number one task.”
His red lines remain firm:
No surrender of territory , forced neutrality and erasure of Ukraine’s suffering.
The French presidency backed Kyiv, stating any peace deal must fully respect Ukraine’s territorial sovereignty.
