According to U.S. President Donald Trump, a turning point may be emerging in the protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Speaking to journalists at the White House, Trump stated that an agreement had been reached with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I think we have a deal with Russia,” he said, adding that reaching a similar understanding with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky proved to be much more difficult than he had initially anticipated. “We must reach an agreement with Zelensky,” Trump noted, “but it’s harder than expected.” Still, he concluded: “I believe we have an agreement with both sides.”
Trump did not disclose any specifics about this “deal.” So far, there have been no official comments from either Kyiv or Moscow.
Sharp Criticism Directed at Kyiv
However, it wasn’t Trump’s mention of possible diplomacy that caught the most attention, but rather his harsh remarks aimed at the Ukrainian president. In a post on his own platform, Truth Social, the former U.S. leader accused Zelensky of prolonging the war. “If he wants Crimea, then why didn’t they fight for it 11 years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a single shot being fired?” Trump wrote.
He argued that such inflammatory statements made it harder to resolve the war. “This statement is very damaging to peace negotiations with Russia,” the former president emphasized.
Trump also warned that Ukraine risked losing even more territory if its current path continued. “He can choose peace, or he can keep fighting for another three years and lose the whole country,” Trump declared, describing Zelensky as “a man without cards.” In Trump’s opinion, the Ukrainian leader should start considering compromise for the sake of peace.
Zelensky: “The Situation is Dire, But Crimea is Ukraine”
Trump also expressed frustration that Zelensky was, in his words, “bragging” in The Wall Street Journal about not recognizing the Russian occupation of Crimea. “He has nothing to brag about—the situation in Ukraine is terrible,” Trump added.
According to Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, the former president is growing increasingly frustrated by the slow pace of negotiations. “Zelensky seems to be heading in the wrong direction,” she remarked.
Meanwhile, Zelensky remains firm in his position. During a diplomatic meeting in London, he once again categorically rejected any possibility of recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea. He grounded his stance in the Ukrainian Constitution, which prohibits him from consenting to such territorial concessions.
Zelensky also reminded Washington of its own previous stance. In a post on Telegram, he shared a link to a 2018 U.S. government statement, signed by then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in which the Trump administration rejected Russia’s annexation of the peninsula. The statement, dated July 25, 2018, declared that the United States “rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea.”
“Emotions Ran High”: London Meeting
Despite the tensions, the Ukrainian president remains cautiously optimistic. After a meeting in London involving representatives from five countries, Zelensky expressed hope for progress toward peace. “Emotions ran high today,” he acknowledged in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “But it’s good that five countries came together to bring peace closer.”
U.S. envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, also gave a positive assessment of the talks. According to him, it’s now time to move forward with “President Trump’s war directive.” He wrote on X: “Stop the killing, make peace, and put America first.”
New Round of Talks with Putin
According to the news outlet Axios, citing a U.S. official, Trump’s emissary Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet again with Vladimir Putin this Friday. This would mark the fourth meeting between the two men as part of ongoing behind-the-scenes negotiations over the war in Ukraine. The White House confirmed that Witkoff is expected to meet with the Russian president later this week.
Thus, while official information remains scarce, Trump’s statements signal his determination to push for a diplomatic breakthrough in one of the most critical global conflicts in recent years. Nevertheless, the path to peace remains complex—especially in light of Kyiv’s unwavering stance on Crimea.
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