U.S. President Donald Trump has leveled new harsh accusations at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, claiming that he lacks interest in ending the war with Russia due to the extensive financial support from EU countries. At the same time, Trump portrays Russian President Vladimir Putin as ready to negotiate for peace. He describes Ukraine as a country in ruins, where large territories have been lost and the male population has been decimated by the war. According to Trump, Zelenskyy could have negotiated a much better peace deal two years ago than what is possible now.
The relationship between the White House and Zelenskyy in Kyiv has deteriorated further after the Trump administration’s decision to ease sanctions on Russia and simultaneously open up for the import of Russian diesel.
But when the American president commented on the situation on Truth Social on Sunday, it was primarily Zelenskyy who received criticism.
Trump accuses the Ukrainian president of lacking interest in a peace agreement, claiming that the extensive economic support from EU countries is helping to prolong the war.
Zelenskyy doesn’t care, and frankly, with all the money Europe, as is well known, gives him, and which the villainous Joe Biden previously gave him, he doesn’t want to end this war, and probably never has.
– Donald Trump
“His country is in ruins”
The American president continues with a bleak description of Ukraine’s situation as the war enters its fifth year. According to Trump, the country has lost large parts of its territory, while the human losses have been extensive.
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He also argues that Zelenskyy missed the opportunity to achieve a more favorable peace deal with Russia.
He could have gotten a better deal two years ago than what he can get now. His country is in ruins, a large part of his territory has been lost, his seas are gone, and his male population has drastically shrunk, is injured or dead.
– Donald Trump
This statement is yet another in a series where Trump places responsibility for the lack of peace progress on Zelenskyy rather than on the Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the past, he has also urged Ukraine to get a new president who is prepared to make a deal with the Kremlin.
Trump ends his latest post with a message written in capitals:
“I WANT THIS WAR TO END!”
Hurting the U.S. economy
Trump also criticizes Ukraine’s attacks on Russian oil refineries, claiming they contribute to driving up diesel prices on the world market.
According to the president, Zelenskyy is fully aware of the consequences for the U.S., where rising fuel prices have become a sensitive issue ahead of the midterm elections on November 3.
Zelenskyy is targeting diesel refineries in Russia, fully aware that these attacks seriously hurt the world diesel markets, including in the USA.
– Donald Trump
The president emphasizes that American farmers, ranchers, and businesses are being hit hard by high prices. At the same time, he points out that Russia continues to supply millions of barrels of diesel to the world market at low prices.
However, energy prices have been primarily pushed up by the war in Iran, which has created extensive disruptions on the international oil market. Ukraine has justified its attacks on Russian energy infrastructure by stating that oil revenues help finance Russia’s war effort.
At the same time, Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian officials have pointed to the United States’ and Israel’s war with Iran as the main reason for the turbulence on the energy market and the sharply rising prices.
Trump defends halted sanctions
The new accusations come after Trump on Friday signed a presidential directive postponing broad new sanctions against Russia. The decision has sparked criticism from both Ukraine and European allies, but according to Trump, it is about not jeopardizing the ongoing peace negotiations.
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My decision about Russia is very simple. I am negotiating peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine and do not want to do anything that would foolishly drive Russia away from the negotiating table.
– Donald Trump
Trump claims that major progress is being made in the negotiations and refers to ongoing hostage talks as well. He also points out that so far, Russia has done very little to assist Iran compared to what it could do, and he wants to avoid changing that by further pressuring Russia.
Zelenskyy warns of a “historic mistake”
From the Ukrainian side, Trump’s latest decision has met with sharp criticism. In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Zelenskyy warns that the U.S. would be making a “historic mistake” if the country chooses to take Putin’s side.
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In an interview with Bloomberg, Zelenskyy says he suspects the White House is trying to pressure him to capitulate to Russia.
– I think measures have been taken to convince Ukraine to surrender. I’m not saying that’s what our partners are aiming for, he says, and continues:
– I don’t want to believe that our American partners consider that the war with Russia could end faster at Ukraine’s expense. But that’s how it looks.