Former US President Donald Trump has publicly stated that his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is not prepared to endorse an American-backed peace proposal designed to end the ongoing war with Russia.
Florida Talks Conclude Without Breakthrough
The remarks came at the close of three days of negotiations between US and Ukrainian officials in Florida, which ended on Saturday without a clear resolution. While Zelenskyy characterised the discussions as "constructive, although not easy," Trump expressed frustration. "I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal," Trump told reporters on Sunday night, adding that while the Ukrainian leader's advisers "love it," Zelenskyy himself was not yet on board.
Trump further claimed that "Russia is, I believe, fine with [the deal], but I'm not sure that Zelenskyy's fine with it." However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly approved the White House plan and said last week that elements of Trump's proposal were unworkable.
European Diplomacy and Sticking Points
As the US-led talks stalled, President Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in London on Monday. The summit was expected to focus on the US-Ukraine negotiations and future security guarantees for Kyiv.
Prime Minister Starmer has consistently emphasised that Ukraine must determine its own future, stating a European peacekeeping force would be vital for the country's long-term security.
According to US officials, the peace framework is in its final stages, but critical disputes remain unresolved. These include:
- The status of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.
- Concrete security guarantees for Ukraine's future.
- The fate of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.
Trump's outgoing Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, said at a defence forum that the negotiations were in "the last 10 metres," but acknowledged these outstanding issues. Kellogg, seen as sympathetic to Kyiv, is due to leave his post in January.
Internal US Politics and Russian Reaction
The dynamics within Trump's team are complex. While Kellogg has advocated for Ukraine's position, other envoys like Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner—who met Putin in Moscow last week—have been more receptive to Russian viewpoints. Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., added to the pressure on Zelenskyy, suggesting in Doha that the Ukrainian leader was prolonging the conflict to retain power and that the US would no longer be "the idiot with the chequebook."
Meanwhile, the Kremlin welcomed the Trump administration's newly released national security strategy. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the document, which criticises European nations and seeks improved ties with Russia, aligned with Moscow's vision.
Despite the intense diplomatic push, Zelenskyy affirmed Ukraine's commitment to the process. In a social media post, he stated, "Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace." However, with fundamental disagreements on territory and security still blocking the path, a swift resolution to the conflict appears elusive.
