Washington angered by Zelensky’s response to Trump peace plan – WaPo | RT.com

23 Apr, 2025 15:07

Washington angered by Zelensky’s response to Trump peace plan – WaPo

The Ukrainian leader has reportedly frustrated the White House with his public dismissal of the US roadmap towards peace with Russia

FILE PHOTO: US Secretary of State Secretary Marco Rubio, April 22, 2025. ©  Yasin Ozturk / Anadolu 

US officials are angered by Vladimir Zelensky’s public dismissal of an American proposal to make territorial concessions to Russia in exchange for a peace deal in the Ukraine conflict, according to the Washington Post.

In public comments on Tuesday, Zelensky dismissed options that the administration of US President Donald Trump reportedly presented at high-level discussions in Paris last Thursday, which they believe could facilitate a peace agreement. One such proposal reportedly involved formal recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.

”[Crimea] is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine. We have nothing to talk about on this topic – it is outside our Constitution,” Zelensky stated.

According to the Post, citing an anonymous official briefed on the situation, there is “anger in Washington over [Kiev’s] reluctance to accept proposals to cede territory to Russia,” and that Ukraine prefers “to discuss a complete ceasefire first and everything else later.”

Read more

Zelensky refuses to recognize Russia’s Crimea

A follow-up meeting to the Paris talks between European and US officials had been scheduled for London on Wednesday, although it was abruptly downgraded when US Secretary of State Marco Rubio opted not to attend. 

• Foreign ministers from European NATO members – including France and Germany – who were also due to gather in London followed Rubio's lead and skipped the event.

Zelensky’s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, who heads the Ukrainian delegation, stated that he and Ukrainian defense and foreign ministers would “discuss ways to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire” with Western officials.

1. Rubio had previously expressed hope that “substantive and good technical meetings” in London would pave the way for his rescheduled visit to the British capital “in the coming months.” 
2. Senior US officials have warned they will abandon efforts to negotiate a compromise truce between Ukraine and Russia if either side attempts to obstruct their initiatives.

READ MORE: UK and France would support Ukrainian territorial concessions to Moscow – WSJ

The EU and the UK are committed to continuing military support for Ukraine and are urging the US not to distance itself from the crisis, contrary to Trump’s announced intention. 

• British and French leaders are reportedly willing to support territorial concessions by Ukraine, provided Western security guarantees are offered in return. 
• Moscow has made it clear that it will not accept the presence of troops from NATO countries in Ukraine, a proposal championed by Paris and London

UNITED24 Media

a day ago

Zelenskyy Rejects Reported US Readiness to Concede Crimea to Russia

1 hour ago - World

Trump accuses Zelensky of sabotaging U.S. peace plan for Ukraine

• Dave Lawler,
• Barak Ravid

Trump and Zelensky in the Oval Office. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

President Trump declared that Volodymyr Zelensky has "no cards to play" in a stinging rebuke after the Ukrainian president rejected his framework for peace.

Why it matters: The U.S. presented Ukraine with its "final offer" for peace last week, which includes U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian territory and no possibility of NATO membership for Ukraine. But Zelensky rejected that proposal on Wednesday.

The intrigue: Trump is accusing Zelensky of blocking the peace plan while suggesting an agreement with Russia is "very close."

• White House envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, a U.S. official tells Axios.

What they're saying: 

"Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea," Zelensky told reporters. 

"There is nothing to talk about. It is against our constitution."

• Ukraine's constitution also commits the country to working toward NATO membership.
• However, as Trump pointed out in his response, the document does not actually state that Ukraine recognize Russian control of Crimea, only that the U.S. will.

Driving the news: Trump called Zelensky's statement "very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia," in a lengthy Truth Social post, arguing that Ukraine was not actually fighting for Crimea and that it was "lost years ago."

• "It's inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy's that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country," Trump continued.
• "I have nothing to do with Russia, but have much to do with wanting to save, on average, five thousand Russian and Ukrainian soldiers a week, who are dying for no reason whatsoever."
• "The statement made by Zelenskyy today will do nothing but prolong the "killing field," and nobody wants that! We are very close to a Deal, but the man with "no cards to play" should now, finally, GET IT DONE."
• Vice President Vance said earlier Wednesday that the U.S. proposal would "freeze" the conflict along the current front lines and called on both parties to "either say yes or for the U.S. to walk away."

Reality check: There's no sign a deal is actually close, particularly since Ukraine has rejected Trump's plan and top U.S. officials skipped talks in London on Wednesday in which they had been expected to discuss Trump's proposal with the Ukrainians.

Between the lines: A source close to the Ukrainian government told Axios that Kyiv sees Trump's proposal as heavily biased toward Russia, with Moscow getting clear-cut wins and Kyiv only vague promises.