President of the United States, Donald Trump on Monday blasted Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy for saying a peace deal is “very far.”
“The final deal about ending the war is very, very far. Nobody’s even started all those steps yet,” Zelenskyy said Sunday on his way home from London after a summit with European leaders.
Trump called it “the worst statement that could have been made” by the Ukrainian president, writing on Truth Social, in part: “This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer!”
Zelenskyy earlier Monday expressed gratitude for years of American backing in a statement ending a tumultuous week of transatlantic diplomacy that saw a dramatic and public break with Trump’s administration.
Zelenskyy framed this week’s outreach as the beginning of a longer process that may result in a peace deal to end Russia’s three-year-old invasion of his country. “There will be many meetings and joint efforts in the coming days and weeks,” Zelenskyy said in a video posted to the presidential website.
“There will be diplomacy for peace,” he added. “And for the sake of all of us standing together — Ukraine, the whole of Europe, and necessarily America.”
The Kremlin, meanwhile, said Monday it was “very important” to push Zelenskyy toward making a peace deal, echoing arguments made by Trump in Friday’s contentious Oval Office meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron embrace after holding a meeting during a summit at Lancaster House in central London, U.K., on March 2, 2025. Justin Tallis/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
“He does not want peace. Someone should make Zelenskyy want peace,” said Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, his remarks reflecting Russia’s long-standing false narrative blaming Kyiv for Moscow’s three-year-old invasion and more than a decade of cross-border aggression.
“If the Europeans can do it, they should be honored and praised,” Peskov said.
On Monday, Zelenskyy reacted to another night of Russian long-range missile and drone strikes, writing on Telegram, “Ukraine is fighting for the normal and safe life it deserves, for a peace that is just and reliable. We want this war to end. But Russia does not want it and continues its aerial terror.”
“Those who want negotiations do not deliberately hit people with ballistic missiles,” the president added. “To force Russia to stop the strikes, we need a greater joint force of the world.”
Trump is expected to meet with his top national security advisers Monday afternoon for a briefing on Ukraine, multiple sources told ABC News.
The briefing will include national security adviser Mike Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth.
The group will discuss next steps after Zelenskyy was asked to leave the White House after last week’s explosive Oval Office meeting.
Zelenskyy’s fiery Friday meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance demonstrated the divergence in Ukrainian and U.S. visions of Russia’s war, blame for which Trump has repeatedly and falsely attributed to Kyiv while also seeking to undermine Zelenskyy.
