Trump Issues Harsh Warning to Zelensky Amid Stalled Peace Talks

Former President Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of prolonging the war with Russia and risking Ukraine’s collapse. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump warned Zelensky to negotiate or risk “losing the whole country,” criticizing his refusal to acknowledge Russia’s occupation of Crimea.

Trump claimed peace is close but blamed Zelensky for making “inflammatory” statements that harm negotiations. He emphasized saving lives, stating 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers die each week “for no reason.”

The warning came after Zelensky told The Wall Street Journal that Ukraine would never legally recognize Crimea as Russian. Trump called that stance harmful and questioned why Ukraine didn’t fight for Crimea in 2014.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also signaled the U.S. may walk away from talks, saying, “It’s not our war.” As Ukraine resisted U.S. pressure to concede territory, Trump’s envoy headed to Moscow, bypassing a planned meeting in London—causing frustration among U.S. allies.

UK officials criticized the shift in U.S. policy, with one minister saying, “The US is messing up everything.” Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace blamed Trump’s team for worsening the global situation.