As Kyiv reels from one of the deadliest Russian missile strikes in months, US President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that negotiations with him have been “harder than expected”.
The comments were made following renewed Russian assaults on the Ukrainian capital, which left at least nine civilians dead and over 70 injured. Despite the devastation, Trump focused his remarks on the difficulty of reaching a peace deal, claiming: “I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky… so far, it’s been harder, but that’s okay.”
Trump repeated his belief that a peace agreement is possible but implied that President Zelensky’s commitment to Ukraine’s constitution, specifically the requirement to reclaim Crimea, was an obstacle.
“He even follows the Ukrainian constitution,” Trump said, apparently frustrated that Zelensky refused to accept US proposals which reportedly included recognising Russian control over Crimea and easing sanctions on Moscow.
According to reports, the Trump administration recently delivered a one-page “final proposal” to Ukrainian officials during talks in Paris. Ukraine promptly rejected it, reiterating that it will never accept Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea, which remains internationally recognised as Ukrainian territory.
In a separate comment, Trump said: “Crimea was lost many years ago,” accusing Zelensky of “undermining peace negotiations”.
The former president also stated that up to 5,000 soldiers were being killed every week in the ongoing conflict. “I was saying 2,500 and everyone was telling me that’s low. 5,000 soldiers are being killed every week approximately… They’re Russian and Ukrainian. They’re not Americans, but they’re people. And they’re human beings,” he said.
Trump went on to claim that the war would never have occurred if he had remained in office: “You would have never had that war if I were president. I guarantee you that.”
Asked whether he might meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia, Trump said it was “possible”, but “most likely not”, hinting that a meeting could follow soon thereafter.
Kyiv Missile Strike
The latest missile barrage on Kyiv targeted residential areas and infrastructure. Emergency services continue to search for survivors amid the rubble, as local officials describe the attack as one of the most destructive in recent memory.
The Kremlin has not commented on the strike, but Ukrainian authorities claim it was part of a broader campaign to break civilian morale.
As diplomatic efforts stall and battlefield losses mount, Trump’s remarks are likely to be seen as undermining Ukraine’s negotiating position. His public willingness to concede Crimea to Russia may further complicate Western unity on the issue.
