Washington (Rajeev Sharma): United States President Donald Trump expressed disappointment on Sunday over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s apparent hesitation to review a US-drafted proposal aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Speaking to reporters ahead of attending the Kennedy Centre Honours, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy’s delay is hindering progress in negotiations.
“I’m a little disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn’t yet read the proposal, as of a few hours ago. His aides like it, but he isn’t ready,” Trump said. He added that Russia appears “fine” with the plan, while Ukraine has not yet given its full endorsement.
The comments followed three days of talks in Florida between US and Ukrainian negotiators, designed to reconcile differences over the proposed framework. Zelenskyy, meanwhile, stressed that Ukraine remains committed to engaging in good faith with the US to achieve a genuine peace, posting on social media that he had received updates from officials involved in the discussions.
While Zelenskyy has been cautious, Moscow responded positively to the Trump administration’s recently released national security strategy. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that the document emphasizes dialogue and reduced confrontation, and expressed hope that it could lead to constructive cooperation between Washington and Moscow on resolving the conflict.
Keith Kellogg, Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy, highlighted that the remaining obstacles involve territorial disputes in Donbas and the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. Donbas remains largely under Russian control, alongside two southern regions annexed in 2022, while Zaporizhzhia—under Russian occupation—requires a stable power supply to safely cool its reactors and manage spent fuel.
Despite diplomatic efforts, violence continues on the ground. Russian strikes over the weekend killed at least four civilians. A drone attack hit Chernihiv in northern Ukraine, while missile and drone strikes in Kremenchuk disrupted water and electricity supplies. In Kharkiv, three people were killed and ten injured amid shelling. Ukrainian authorities accused Russia of targeting civilian infrastructure to deprive populations of heat, light, and water during the winter.
Looking ahead, Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet leaders from the UK, France, and Germany in London on Monday, underscoring continued international involvement in efforts to end the conflict.
Trump’s remarks underscore his longstanding view that the war has been costly for the US and that Ukraine must make concessions to reach a resolution, while Zelenskyy continues to prioritize maintaining Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
