Former U.S. President Donald Trump has effectively blamed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for Russia’s invasion, a statement that comes as French President Emmanuel Macron prepares for another round of discussions with European and non-European partners.
Zelensky had earlier expressed his discontent over U.S.-Russia talks that excluded Kyiv, stressing that any efforts to resolve the war must be “fair” and involve European nations. His comments seemed to provoke Trump, who launched verbal attacks on the Ukrainian leader.
“I’m very disappointed, I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat,” Trump stated while addressing reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. “Today I heard, ‘oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years… You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
Trump also suggested he might meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin before the end of the month in Saudi Arabia, signaling a shift in Washington’s approach toward Moscow that has raised concerns among European leaders.
Earlier on Tuesday, the United States and Russia agreed to establish teams to negotiate a path toward ending the war in Ukraine. However, the move sparked a sharp reaction from Kyiv, leading Zelensky to postpone his planned trip to Saudi Arabia.
Macron responded by announcing additional meetings in Paris following the U.S.-Russia discussions, stating that Trump “can restart a useful dialogue” with Putin.
Meanwhile, Trump added to the pressure on Zelensky, urging Ukraine to hold elections—a demand that aligns with one of Moscow’s conditions for any potential resolution to the conflict.
Trump Pushes for Elections in Ukraine
Addressing whether the U.S. would back Russia’s demand for Ukraine to hold elections, Trump appeared to question Zelensky’s approval ratings.
“They want a seat at the table, but you could say… wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have a say? It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election,” Trump remarked. “That’s not a Russian thing, that’s something coming from me, from other countries.”
Zelensky was elected in 2019 for a five-year term but remains in office under martial law, which has prevented new elections. Trump’s statements are unlikely to ease growing fears among European leaders, who worry that Washington might offer significant concessions to Moscow, potentially reshaping Europe’s security landscape in a Cold War-style agreement.
The U.S. administration acknowledged that European nations would need to have a role in negotiations “at some point.”
U.S.-Russia Talks Spark Ukrainian Backlash
The U.S.-Russia talks—marking the first high-level official discussions between the two nations since Russia’s 2022 invasion—elicited a strong reaction from Ukrainian officials.
“This will only be feeding Putin’s appetite,” a senior Ukrainian official, speaking anonymously to AFP, remarked, criticizing the launch of talks without Kyiv’s involvement.
However, Trump expressed confidence in the negotiations following discussions in Riyadh. “I think I have the power to end this war,” he told reporters at Mar-a-Lago.
Moscow Sees Diplomatic Victory
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reached an agreement to “appoint respective high-level teams to begin working on a path to ending the conflict in Ukraine as soon as possible,” according to the U.S. State Department.
Washington also confirmed that both sides had decided to “establish a consultation mechanism” aimed at resolving diplomatic tensions between the two nations and laying the foundation for future cooperation.
The diplomatic engagement in Riyadh represents a win for Moscow, which had faced years of isolation under the previous U.S. administration led by Joe Biden.
Kirill Dmitriev, Russia’s economic negotiator, declared that Western attempts to isolate Russia had “obviously failed.”
“We did not just listen but heard each other, and I have reason to believe the American side has better understood our position,” Lavrov said.
The veteran diplomat emphasized that Russia remains opposed to any NATO troop presence in Ukraine as part of a ceasefire agreement.
European Allies Divided Over Peacekeeping Troops
This week, European nations showed divisions over whether they would support sending peacekeeping forces to Ukraine as part of a truce.
Macron, in an interview with French regional newspapers, appeared to leave the door open to the idea, suggesting that troops could be deployed in limited capacities but away from active conflict zones.
Meanwhile, Moscow reiterated its longstanding demand for the withdrawal of NATO forces from Eastern Europe, viewing the alliance’s presence as a security threat.
On Tuesday, the Kremlin clarified that while Ukraine has the right to join the European Union, it cannot become a NATO member.
Additionally, Russian officials stated that President Putin was “ready” to negotiate with Zelensky “if necessary.”
AFP
