Trump slams Zelensky's statement as 'very harmful' to Russia peace talks

Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling his remarks on Crimea "very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia".

The disagreement centres on Crimea, with Trump asserting that the region should be recognised as Russian territory, while Zelensky firmly rejected this, emphasising Ukraine's commitment to its principles, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Trump wrote on Wednesday in a post on Truth Social that "Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognise Crimea as Russian territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?"

"It's inflammatory statements like Zelensky's that make it so difficult to settle this war. He has nothing to boast about," wrote Trump, adding that "The situation for Ukraine is dire – he can have peace, or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country."

During the latest round of negotiations in London, the U.S. proposed a peace plan aligning with Moscow's stance, suggesting that Ukraine officially recognise Crimea as Russian territory and abandon its aspirations to join NATO. Ukraine firmly rejected both conditions, prompting frustration from President Trump, who had previously warned of withdrawing the U.S. from the talks.

"Crimea was lost years ago and is not even a point of discussion," President Trump asserted.

Trump also noted that the statement made by Zelensky would do nothing but 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," he noted.

On Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv is open to negotiations in any format, provided a ceasefire with Russia is established, as reported by the government-run Ukrinform news agency. However, he firmly reiterated that Ukraine would not legally recognise Russia's occupation of Crimea, citing its contradiction with the nation's constitution.

Trump criticised Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for his refusal to concede Crimea to Russia, expressing dissatisfaction with Kyiv's resistance.

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that 'Ukraine will not legally recognise the occupation of Crimea. There's nothing to talk about here.' This statement is very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama and is not even a point of discussion," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Russia seized control of the Crimean peninsula in 2014 without any significant resistance from Ukraine at the time.

The move was condemned by several nations, with only a handful of countries recognising Russia's claim to Crimea.

Since taking office in January, Trump has sharply altered the US approach to the Ukraine war.

Instead of punishing moves against Russia like his predecessor Joe Biden, Washington is now pressing Ukraine to agree to a ceasefire, even if it is unacceptable to Kyiv.

Meanwhile, ever since Donald Trump's and Vladimir Putin's phone call and Washington's foreign policy tilt towards Moscow, European nations have scrambled to find ways to support Kyiv, which finds itself staring at an increasingly uncertain future.

(inputs from IANS)