Trump says Zelenskyy ‘isn’t ready’ yet to accept US-authored proposal to end Russia-Ukraine war
KYIV, Ukraine — KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump on Sunday claimed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy “isn’t ready” to sign off on a U.S-authored peace proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war.
Trump criticized Zelenskyy after U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators wrapped up three days of talks aimed at narrowing differences on the U.S. administration’s proposal. Trump suggested that Zelenskyy is hindering progress in the negotiations.
“I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn’t,” Trump claimed in an exchange with reporters before a Kennedy Center Honors event. The president added, “Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I’m not sure that Zelenskyy’s fine with it. His people love it it. But he isn’t ready.”
To be clear, Russian President Vladimir Putin hasn’t publicly expressed approval for the White House plan. Putin last week stated that some aspects of Trump’s proposal were unworkable, even though the initial draft heavily favored Moscow.
Trump’s relationship with Zelenskyy has been inconsistent, with Trump previously suggesting that Ukraine should cede land to Russia to end the long-standing conflict that he believes has resulted in too many casualties.
