Trump Expresses Disappointment Over Zelenskyy's Response to Peace Plan

US President Donald Trump has expressed his disappointment that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not yet read a proposal aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict with Russia. This comment was made following negotiations in Miami that concluded without any significant breakthroughs.

During an event at the Kennedy Center Honors, Trump remarked, "We have been speaking to President Putin and Ukrainian leaders, including President Zelenskyy. I am a little disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't read the proposal yet... Russia's fine with it... But I am not sure that Zelenskyy is fine with it. His people love it. But he is not ready..." This statement reflects the complexities involved in the peace negotiations, which continue to face significant hurdles.

The Miami talks, which involved US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, alongside Ukrainian officials Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov, began on Thursday. Despite the extensive discussions lasting three days, Ukrainian officials reported that many critical issues remain unresolved, particularly concerning security guarantees and territorial disputes.

Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, commented on the outcome of the discussions, stating, "Difficult issues remain, but both sides continue working to shape realistic and acceptable solutions." She highlighted the primary challenges at this stage as relating to territorial questions and security guarantees, emphasising the need for optimal solutions to these longstanding issues.

The need for reliable security guarantees is a crucial aspect for Ukraine, which insists that any end to hostilities should not require the nation to concede more territory to Russia. In stark contrast, Russian President Vladimir Putin has indicated intentions to seize control of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, stating his country would pursue this aim by any means necessary.

Prior to the Miami talks, Witkoff and Kushner met with Putin in Moscow, where Trump claimed they had a "very good meeting" and expressed belief that the Russian leader "would like to see the war ended". However, these discussions have yet to yield a tangible resolution.

In a social media update, President Zelenskyy described his recent phone conversation with Witkoff and Kushner as "long" and "constructive", noting that they had discussed numerous aspects crucial to ending the conflict and preventing a new full-scale invasion from Russia. Zelenskyy also mentioned the importance of working closely with his team to refine ideas and proposals, as not all details could be thoroughly discussed over the phone.

The subject of peace negotiations will also be addressed in an upcoming meeting on Monday in London, where Zelenskyy is set to meet with leaders from France, Britain, and Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the discussions will focus on the ongoing negotiations facilitated by the United States.

As the situation develops, both Ukrainian and US officials remain engaged in efforts to find a resolution to the conflict, which has claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions since it began in 2014.