Zelensky and Trump clash over peace plan: What do they want?

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: According to reports, the final US proposal to end the war in Ukraine was based on a framework that included recognizing the Crimean Peninsula as part of Russia and accepting Russia’s informal control over most of the occupied Ukrainian territory from 2022. In addition, the proposal also included denying Ukraine the possibility of joining NATO. The one-page plan was presented to Ukrainian officials in Paris last week by US officials.

 

Trump’s reaction and criticism of Zelensky

In response to Zelensky’s rejection of the proposal, US President Donald Trump said that the opposition “makes the path to peace more difficult” and added: “Zelensky has no trump card.” Trump referred to Crimea, stating that the region was ceded to Russia years ago during the presidency of Barack Obama and is no longer up for debate. He also asked Zelensky why he didn’t fight for it when it was ceded to Russia without a single shot being fired?

Trump continued that if Zelensky did not give in to Russia’s demands, he would either make peace or fight for another three years and end up losing the entire country.

 

Other US officials' reactions

Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance, who has been visiting India, took a similar stance, saying that the US would withdraw from the mediation process if Ukraine and Russia did not accept the US conditions. He added: "We have made a very clear offer to both sides, and now it is time for them to accept it or for the US to withdraw from this process."

 

Kremlin's reaction to US mediation

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, while welcoming the US mediation efforts, stated that there are complex issues on the path to achieving peace that need to be discussed and examined.

 

Internal disputes among US and European officials

Following the proposal and the various reactions, the Trump administration's aggressive actions dealt a blow to the efforts of European leaders. After the tense meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, European officials had tried to strengthen Ukraine's position, but after Trump's proposal, these efforts encountered problems. A meeting of foreign ministers from various countries was supposed to be held in London with the participation of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, but the two canceled their trips, and the meeting of foreign ministers was also canceled.

 

Cancellation of the meeting of foreign ministers in London and changes in the mediation process

According to the New York Times, these changes in the plans dealt a heavy blow to the efforts of European leaders. They, who in recent months had hoped to strengthen Ukraine's position through mediation after the tense meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the White House, are now facing new problems. The first collective efforts of European leaders to resolve the crisis were made in Paris last week. Another meeting was scheduled to be held in London with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, but due to the cancellation of these officials' trips, a meeting of foreign ministers from various countries was also canceled.

According to Axios, citing a US official, Mr. Witkoff is scheduled to leave for Moscow on Friday to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Despite the cancellation of Marco Rubio and Steve Witkoff's trips, the London meeting was held with the participation of lower-ranking diplomats from the US, Britain, France, Germany and Ukraine.

 

Peace prospects and Zelensky's statements

In response to these developments, Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the social network X that the views of various countries, including the US, Britain, France and Germany, were considered and that Ukraine would always act within its constitution. He also published a copy of a 2018 statement by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the Trump administration, in which Russia's annexation of Crimea was rejected. Zelensky added that he hopes that the joint cooperation of different countries will lead to a lasting peace and that his country will adhere to its firm principles in preserving its territorial integrity.

 

Trump's predictions and the challenges of continuing the war

Donald Trump announced in an interview on Wednesday evening that he thinks he has reached an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but he called negotiations with Zelensky still difficult. He said: "I think we have reached an agreement with Russia, but now we have to reach an agreement with Zelensky. I thought it would be easier to negotiate with Zelensky, but so far it has been more difficult."