Donald Trump stated that Volodymyr Zelenski “is not very important” for peace negotiations in the context of the war between Russia and Ukraine. This statement is set against a backdrop of increasing distance between the leaders of the United States and Ukraine, which has raised concerns about the future of bilateral relations and the possibility of resolving the conflict.
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Trump, in an audio interview with Fox News, expressed that he does not consider the presence of the Ukrainian president essential in discussions aimed at ending the war. “I don’t think he is very important in meetings”, he stated. Additionally, the president opined that Zelensky has been in power for three years and that “hace muy difícil llegar a acuerdos”.
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In a subsequent meeting with governors at the White House, Trump stated that he had had “very good conversations” with President Vladimir Putin, while his talks with Ukraine had not been as productive. “No tienen cartas, pero juegan duro,” he added.
Crossed Versions in the USA
This situation is further complicated by statements from Keith Kellogg, Trump’s peace envoy and war veteran, who broke his silence to praise Zelensky, despite Trump having labeled him a “dictator.” Kellogg, who went to Kyiv this week, met with the Ukrainian president amid a bitter dispute between them. He has been tasked with acting as a mediator in the conflict and has a deadline of 100 days to reach an agreement.
In his statements, Kellogg described his meeting with Zelensky as “extensive and positive”, highlighting the work of the Ukrainian leader and his national security team. After the meeting, Zelensky shared a video on social media where he expressed that the conversation “restored hope” in relations between the United States and Ukraine and personally thanked Kellogg for his support. Kellogg then responded that the day was marked by “extensive and positive discussions with @ZelenskyyUa, the troubled and courageous leader of a nation at war and his talented national security team”. However, the diplomatic situation between the two countries remains tense.
A joint press conference between Kellogg and Zelensky was canceled at the last minute at the request of U.S. officials, according to the spokesperson for the Ukrainian president, Serhii Nikiforov. Although no specific reasons were provided for the cancellation, this decision reflects the growing differences between the two nations.
Negotiations for Minerals
In this context, Trump’s national security advisor, Mike Waltz, anticipated that Zelensky would sign an agreement that would grant the United States a share of Ukraine’s mineral wealth. During his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Waltz expressed his confidence that the agreement will be finalized in the short term, stating that “lo mejor que podría tener Ucrania es una asociación económica con Estados Unidos.”
These tensions escalated when Trump lashed out at Zelensky in a social media attack, accusing him of “refusing to hold elections”. In his comments, he also suggested that Zelensky had convinced the United States to spend “350 billion dollars on a war that could not be won.” Furthermore, Trump claimed that he trusts Russia is seeking peace, while continuing to call Zelensky a “dictator without elections.”
Zelensky, for his part, criticized Trump for believing in Russian propaganda and expressed indignation over his exclusion from peace negotiations. In this hostile climate, the Ukrainian leader emphasized that if Putin desires peace, he must start by withdrawing his troops from Ukraine.
Europe, Squared with Ukraine
In the midst of this context, European leaders have attempted to engage in peace talks to ensure stability on the continent. However, so far, the negotiations have been limited to representatives from Moscow and Washington. Trump, in his conversation with Fox News, also criticized European leaders for not doing enough to end the conflict, stating that “they have done nothing.”
As negotiations progress, the next meeting between European and American leaders is projected to take place in Washington, where a potential peacekeeping proposal will be discussed, which could include the deployment of up to 30,000 British and European troops in Ukraine, a measure Putin has already labeled as “unacceptable.” The future of relations between the United States and Ukraine appears uncertain, and the actions of Trump and his envoys could redefine the geopolitical landscape in Europe.