Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging the conflict in Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying the Ukrainian chief is prolonging the ‘killing area’ after he pushed again on ceding Crimea to Russia as a part of a possible peace plan.

Zelenskyy on Tuesday dominated out the concept of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia in any deal earlier than talks set for Wednesday in London amongst U.S., European and Ukrainian officers. “There’s nothing to speak about — it’s our land, the land of the Ukrainian individuals,” Zelenskyy stated.

Throughout related talks final week in Paris, U.S. officers offered a proposal that included permitting Russia to maintain management of occupied Ukrainian territory as a part of a deal, in accordance with a European official conversant in the matter who was not approved to remark publicly and spoken on the situation of anonymity.

“This assertion may be very dangerous to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was misplaced years in the past beneath the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and isn’t even some extent of debate,” Trump wrote on Fact Social on Wednesday. “No one is asking Zelenskyy to acknowledge Crimea as Russian Territory however, if he desires Crimea, why didn’t they struggle for it eleven years in the past when it was handed over to Russia with out a shot being fired?”

Trump added that “inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s” is making “it so troublesome to settle this Battle.”

“He has nothing to boast about!” Trump stated. “The scenario for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can struggle for an additional three years earlier than shedding the entire Nation.” Zelenskyy’s assertion “will do nothing however delay the ‘killing area,’ and no person desires that! We’re very near a Deal, however the man with “no playing cards to play” ought to now, lastly, GET IT DONE.”

A deliberate assembly Wednesday involving prime U.S., British, French and Ukrainian diplomats to push ahead a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine was pared again on the final minute, with Vice President JD Vance saying negotiations are reaching a second of fact.

“We’ve issued a really express proposal to each the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to both say ‘sure’ or for the USA to stroll away from this course of,” Vance instructed reporters throughout a go to to Agra, India.

He stated it was “a very reasonable proposal” that will “freeze the territorial strains at some stage near the place they’re at the moment,” with either side having to surrender some territory they at present maintain. He didn’t present additional particulars of the proposal.

A senior European official conversant in the continuing talks involving the American staff stated a proposal that the U.S. says is “last” was initially offered final week in Paris, the place it was described as “simply concepts” — and that they may very well be modified.

When these “concepts” surfaced in media reviews a number of days later, Ukrainian officers have been shocked to search out that Washington portrayed them as last, in accordance with the official, who was not approved to remark publicly and spoke on situation of anonymity.

Zelenskyy stated Wednesday that Ukraine is prepared for any format of negotiations which may convey a ceasefire and open the door to full peace negotiations, as he mourned 9 civilians killed when a Russian drone struck a bus earlier within the day.

“We insist on a direct, full and unconditional ceasefire,” Zelenskyy wrote on his Telegram web page, in accordance with a proposal he stated the USA tabled six weeks in the past.

Ukraine and a few Western European governments have accused Putin of dragging his ft on that proposal as his military tries to seize extra Ukrainian land. Western analysts say Moscow is in no rush to conclude peace talks as a result of it has battlefield momentum.

Doubts over negotiations

U.Okay. International Secretary David Lammy introduced the talks in London to search out an finish to the greater than three-year conflict would contain solely lower-ranking officers after the U.S. State Division stated Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unable to attend due to a scheduling challenge.

Rubio’s abrupt cancellation raised doubts in regards to the course of the negotiations.

Commenting on these attending the London talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that “so far as we perceive, they to date have did not convey their positions nearer on some points.”

He stated the Kremlin was nonetheless in consultations with American officers however wouldn’t publicly focus on particulars.

U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff is anticipated to go to Moscow once more later this week, in accordance with Russian officers.

Even attaining a restricted, 30-day ceasefire has been past the attain of negotiators, as either side have continued to assault one another in a grinding conflict of attrition alongside the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) entrance line and launch long-range strikes.

A Russian drone struck a bus carrying staff in Marganets, in japanese Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk area on Wednesday morning, killing eight girls and one man, regional head Serhii Lysak wrote on his Telegram channel. Greater than 40 individuals have been injured, he stated.

Lysak printed photographs of a bus with its home windows blown out and shards of glass blended with blood spattered on the bus flooring.

Ukrainian delegation arrives in London

Trump has pushed for an finish to the conflict and stated final week that negotiations have been “coming to a head.” That remark got here after Rubio urged that the U.S. may quickly again away from negotiations in the event that they don’t progress.

Rubio had indicated that Wednesday’s assembly may very well be decisive in figuring out whether or not the Trump administration stays engaged.

These nonetheless attending the assembly included retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Andrii Yermak, the top of Ukraine’s presidential workplace, stated on X {that a} delegation together with him, International Minister Andrii Sybiha and Protection Minister Rustem Umerov had arrived in London for the talks regardless of the alterations.

“The trail to peace will not be simple, however Ukraine has been and stays dedicated to peaceable efforts,” Yermak stated. Officers would “focus on methods to attain a full and unconditional ceasefire as step one towards a complete settlement and the achievement of a simply and lasting peace,” he stated.

Zelenskyy rejects ceding territory

Throughout related talks final week in Paris, U.S. officers offered a proposal that included permitting Russia to maintain management of occupied Ukrainian territory as a part of a deal, in accordance with a European official conversant in the matter.

Zelenskyy pushed again towards that in an look in Kyiv, saying: “There’s nothing to speak about — it’s our land, the land of the Ukrainian individuals.”

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Financial system Minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, stated Wednesday: “Ukraine is able to negotiate — however to not give up.”

Russia, in the meantime, has successfully rejected a U.S. proposal for a direct and full 30-day halt within the preventing by imposing far-reaching circumstances.

Trump stated repeatedly throughout his election marketing campaign final yr that he would be capable of finish the conflict “in 24 hours” upon taking workplace. However he has expressed frustration with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Some European allies are cautious of the American proposal for Ukraine to change land for peace. However an official stated there’s additionally acknowledgment by some allies that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly or partially in 5 areas of Ukraine — Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

If the purpose is to acquire a ceasefire instantly, “it ought to be based mostly on the road of contact as it’s,” stated a senior French official. The official was not approved to be publicly named and spoke on the situation of anonymity in accordance with French presidential coverage.

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Novikov reported from Kyiv and Madhani from Washington. Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv, Ukraine and Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.

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Observe AP’s protection of the conflict in Ukraine at