In a significant development concerning the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, US President Donald Trump has publicly expressed his disappointment with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The issue stems from Zelensky not having read a peace proposal drafted by the United States aimed at ending the nearly four-year-long war.
Trump's Disappointment and Stalled Talks
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, President Trump revealed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet read the US-authored Russia-Ukraine peace proposal. Trump indicated that this lack of review is a key reason the Ukrainian leader "isn't ready" to sign off on the plan. "I have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn't yet read the proposal that was as of a few hours ago," Trump stated.
This criticism came after US and Ukrainian negotiators concluded three days of talks in Florida on Saturday, intended to bridge differences on the American administration's roadmap to peace. Trump suggested that Zelensky's inaction is currently holding up the progress of these crucial negotiations.
The Contentious US Peace Proposal
The proposed peace plan, brokered by the United States, has undergone several revisions since it first surfaced last month. It initially faced backlash for being perceived as too lenient towards Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. A key point of contention has been President Trump's repeated urging for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia as a means to stop the fighting, which he has called a waste of American taxpayer money.
While President Zelensky reported a "substantive phone call" with American officials involved in the Florida talks and affirmed Ukraine's commitment to work "in good faith" for peace, he has not publicly endorsed the US draft. Conversely, Russian President Vladimir Putin has also not approved the plan. Last week, Putin declared certain aspects of Trump's proposal to be unworkable, despite earlier versions reportedly favouring Moscow's interests.
Potential Withdrawal of US Support
Adding pressure to the situation, Donald Trump Jr., the US President's son, issued a stark warning regarding future American backing for Ukraine. While not holding an official government role, he stated at the Doha Forum in Qatar that the US may end its financial support for Ukraine's war effort if a long-term peace agreement cannot be reached.
In comments reported by The Guardian, Trump Jr. argued that Americans have no desire to continue "writing cheques" to fund the conflict. He launched into a critique, alleging that Ukraine's "corrupt" wealthy elite had fled the country, leaving ordinary citizens to bear the burden of the war.
The convergence of these statements from the US leadership highlights a critical juncture in the conflict. With the principal US-authored peace plan unread by the Ukrainian president, key elements deemed unworkable by Russia, and threats to cut off vital funding, the path to a diplomatic resolution appears increasingly complex and uncertain.
