Trump Criticizes Ukraine Over War with Russia, Suggesting a Deal Could Have Been Made
President Donald Trump has rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, expressing disappointment over his complaints about being excluded from recent U.S.-Russia peace negotiations. Trump suggested that Ukraine had ample opportunity to broker a settlement before the war escalated, thereby preventing significant territorial losses.
Speaking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump responded to Kyiv’s frustration over its absence from the diplomatic discussions. "I’m very disappointed. I hear they’re upset about not having a seat [at the talks],” he said. “You’ve been there for three years ... You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
Trump’s remarks seemed to place partial blame on Ukraine for Moscow’s invasion, even as he expressed optimism about a resolution following discussions between Washington and Moscow. He suggested that even a mediocre negotiator could have reached a compromise years ago, sparing Ukraine from losing much of its land.
During his speech in Florida, Trump also amplified calls for Ukraine to hold elections, a demand aligned with Russia’s position. The U.S. president indicated a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin by the end of the month, reflecting a shift in Washington’s approach to Russia that has unsettled European leaders.
Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy had criticized the U.S.-Russia discussions for excluding Ukraine, stressing that any resolution should be fair and involve European nations. Postponing his planned trip to Saudi Arabia—where the talks took place—Zelenskyy voiced his frustration: “Once again, discussions about Ukraine are happening without Ukraine.”
Trump, seemingly irked by Zelenskyy’s remarks, launched a series of criticisms against the Ukrainian leader,
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