Ukraine-Russia, Trump attacks Zelensky: “This is how he pushes peace away”. Referral to London and frost on Crimea

The former tycoon accuses the Ukrainian leader of ‘prolonging death camps’. Washington puts the brakes on the recognition of Crimea and prepares a possible meeting with Putin

On the day that the expected summit in London between the foreign ministers of Ukraine, the US, the UK, France and Germany is cancelled, Donald Trump is back to harshly attack Volodymyr Zelensky. The cause of the postponement? Kiev’s refusal to discuss the peace plan drawn up by the US, mainly because of yet another Ukrainian “no” to the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.

Trump did not mince his words: “It is statements like Zelensky’s that make it difficult to resolve this war,” the US president wrote in a post on Truth Social, calling the Ukrainian leader’s position “detrimental to any attempt at negotiations”.

The Crimea knot: ‘Lost under Obama, not discussed’
‘Crimea was ceded without firing a shot,’ Trump accused, shifting the blame to the Obama presidency. ‘No one is asking Zelensky to recognise Crimea as Russian,’ he clarified, but according to him there is no point in going back on a point ‘long lost’. The tycoon also recalled the historical presence of Russian naval bases on the peninsula.

Then, a warning that sounds like an ultimatum: ‘Either peace, or three more years of war before we lose the whole country,’ he said, adding that Kiev’s ‘incendiary statements’ ‘only prolong the death camps’.

White House: “The president’s patience is wearing thin”
To reinforce the message, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt also intervened: ‘The president is frustrated, he wants to stop the killing and come to an understanding. But Zelensky continues to row against it’.

Meanwhile, as relations between Washington and Kiev stiffen, those between Trump and the Kremlin seem to be taking a different turn. The US president hinted that he might meet Vladimir Putin soon after his trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates in mid-May.

New contacts between Trump and the Kremlin
According to Axios reports, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff will be in Moscow on Friday for a new face-to-face meeting with Putin. The last one was on 11 April. ‘We think we already have an understanding with Russia,’ Trump said, “now we need an agreement with Zelensky, but it’s much more difficult.

Zelensky retorts: ‘We act according to the Constitution. Partners support us.‘
The Ukrainian leader responded on X, stressing the importance of the five-way meeting in London, despite the postponement of the formal summit: ’Emotions ran high, but work was done for peace.” And he attached an old 2018 statement by former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, reiterating the US rejection of Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

“Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution. And we are confident that the United States will also remain true to its principles,” Zelensky concluded.

Kremlin accuses Europe: “Doesn’t want to negotiate”
Finally, a harsh attack on the West came from Moscow. ‘Europe wants war, not peace,’ spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the French weekly Le Point. ‘So far it has been Washington that has dictated the line,’ he added, arguing that divisions between the allied countries were the main cause of the failure of the London summit.

THE LATEST NEWS

[recent_post_slider design=”design-07″ show_author=”false” slider_height=”390″ lazyload=”progressive” limit=”6″ category=”11728″]

(Photo: © AndKronos)