Donald Trump has hit out at Volodymyr Zelensky in a new statement, saying America will “not put up with it for much longer.”
The US president slammed Zelensky for his statement that peace with Russia is “still very, very far away.”
Trump said this is the “worst statement” the Ukrainian president could have made, and accused him of not wanting peace “as long as he has America’s backing.”
He wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform: “America will not put up with it for much longer!
“It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be peace as long as he has America’s backing”.
Trump said European powers had “stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the US” in their meeting with Zelensky, adding: “Probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?”
Last week, Zelensky found himself in a furious exchange with Trump and his vice president JD Vance, during which the US president accused his Ukrainian counterpart of “gambling with World War Three.”
This was followed by Zelensky then travelling to London, where Keir Starmer led talks to negotiate a ceasefire deal to end the Ukraine-Russia war.
Sir Keir hosted 18 other world leaders, including president Zelensky, to work on a peace plan for him to put to Donald Trump and America, telling them they are facing a “once-in-a-generation moment for the security of Europe,” adding: “We all need to step up.”
On Monday, the prime minister told parliament that Trump’s commitment to peace in Ukraine is sincere. He said the US is vital to securing peace and Britain will play a leading role in achieving it.
Starmer also announced a four-point plan – which he has coined the “coalition of willing” – to work with Ukraine to end the war and defend the country from Russia.
Related: Minister likens Keir Starmer’s lead on Ukraine peace negotiations to the 1940s