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Donald Trump re-engaged the public attack on Volodymyr Zelenskyy and rejected efforts by European leaders to build a common front with the Ukrainian president as the impact of the White House confrontation was further exacerbated on Friday.
In a truth-fact social post on Monday, Trump slammed Zelensky on Sunday night saying the end of the war with Russia was “very far away” and warned that the United States “will not endure it for longer.”
He also suggested that a weekend of European diplomacy, including a summit in London chaired by British Prime Minister Sir Kyle Starmer, and a one-month truce proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron, failed to improve Kiev’s status.
“As long as he gets the support of the United States, he doesn’t want peace as long as he gets the support of the United States,” Trump wrote. The U.S. president added: “Europe was frank at their meeting with Zelenskyy that they would not be able to do the job without the United States.”
In a statement posted on Kiev social media on Monday night, Zelenskyy said Kiev will “continue to work with partners. We have conducted talks and other steps, and there will be other steps in the future.”
On Friday, Trump and Vice President JD Vance fell into a quarrel with Zelenskyy after he publicly criticized the Ukrainian president during an extraordinary public quarrel in the Oval Office.
The verbal showdown endangers the opportunity to reach a peace agreement with Russia, which Ukraine can agree to and raises alarms from many European capitals, a broader commitment to security across the continent.
Spit also prevented the U.S. and Ukraine from signing a deal on U.S. visiting key Ukraine minerals, which is crucial for Trump to maintain Washington’s support for Kiev.
On Monday, the New York Times reported that the U.S. president will meet with his top Ukraine advisers to discuss suspension or cancellation of aid to the country, adding to the concern.
But a White House official played the importance of the meeting. “There are always high-level discussions among government officials to achieve a peaceful solution to the conflict in Ukraine,” the official told the Financial Times.
Trump’s national security adviser Mike Waltz urged Zelenskyy to hold talks with the United States as soon as possible, warning that “time is not around him” and that American patience is “wearing.”
“We need to hear from President Zelensky that he regrets what happened, he is ready to sign a mineral deal and be ready to participate in peace negotiations,” Walz said. “I don’t think it’s too much to ask. I think it’s the best choice for the American people, the Ukrainian people, Russia and the world to restore stability,” he added.
Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine still “very much” wants “US support on the road to peace.”
Starmer is expected to hold further negotiations with European leaders this week. Downing Street does not rule out the Prime Minister who heads to Brussels on Thursday, when EU leaders held an emergency summit.
Britain and France have proposed to lead a “coalition of willingness” to provide troops to ensure a peace agreement in Ukraine, but Starmer insists that there must be a “backstage” of the United States.
British officials said this must mean our air cover, surveillance and other military support. Starmer said that without this, Russian President Vladimir Putin will “come again” to the danger of Ukrainian territory.
