Trump Attacks Zelenskyy For Resisting Calls To Cede Crimea To Russia | rssama.com

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — President Donald Trump connected Wednesday lashed retired astatine Ukraine’s president, saying Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prolonging nan “killing field” aft pushing backmost connected ceding Crimea to Russia arsenic portion of a imaginable bid plan.

Zelenskyy connected Tuesday ruled retired ceding territory to Russia successful immoderate woody earlier talks group for Wednesday successful London among U.S., European and Ukrainian officials. “There is thing to talk about. It is our land, nan onshore of nan Ukrainian people,” Zelenskyy said.

During similar talks past week successful Paris, U.S. officials presented a connection that included allowing Russia to support power of occupied Ukrainian territory arsenic portion of a deal, according to a European charismatic acquainted pinch nan matter who was not authorized to remark publically and said connected information of anonymity.

Trump called Zelenkyy’s pushback “very harmful” to talks.

“Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to admit Crimea arsenic Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they conflict for it eleven years agone erstwhile it was handed complete to Russia without a changeable being fired?” he wrote connected societal media.

Russia annexed Crimea successful 2014 aft sending troops to overrun it. Weeks later, Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising successful eastbound Ukraine, battling Kyiv’s forces.

Trump besides asserted they were adjacent to a woody and that Ukraine’s leader tin person bid aliases “he tin conflict for different 3 years earlier losing nan full Country,” adding that Zelenskyy’s connection “will do thing but prolong nan ‘killing field,’ and cipher wants that!”

‘A very adjacent proposal’

Wednesday’s gathering was pared backmost astatine nan past minute, while Vice President JD Vance said negotiations are reaching a infinitesimal of truth.

“We’ve issued a very definitive connection to some nan Russians and nan Ukrainians, and it’s clip for them to either opportunity ‘yes’ aliases for nan United States to locomotion distant from this process,” Vance told reporters during a sojourn to India.

He said it was “a very adjacent proposal” that would “freeze nan territorial lines astatine immoderate level adjacent to wherever they are today,” pinch some sides having to springiness up immoderate territory they presently hold. He did not supply details.

Trump, who is group to recreation to Rome for Pope Francis’s ceremonial connected Saturday, told reporters later connected Wednesday that he did not cognize if he would meet pinch Zelenskyy aliases different European leaders to talk nan warfare while successful Italy. He besides said that has recovered dealing pinch Zelenskyy harder than dealing pinch nan Russians.

Trump who is group to recreation to nan Middle East adjacent period said it was “possible” that he could meet pinch Putin while successful Saudi Arabia, but that it is much apt he will meet pinch nan Russian leader soon aft that trip.

A elder European charismatic acquainted pinch nan ongoing talks involving nan American squad said a connection nan United States calls “final” was initially presented past week successful Paris, wherever it was described arsenic “just ideas” — and that they could beryllium changed.

When those “ideas” surfaced successful media reports, Ukrainian officials were amazed to find that Washington portrayed them arsenic final, according to nan official, who was not authorized to remark publically and said connected information of anonymity.

Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine is fresh for immoderate format of negotiations that mightiness bring a ceasefire and unfastened nan doorway to afloat bid negotiations, arsenic he mourned 9 civilians killed erstwhile a Russian drone struck a autobus earlier successful nan day.

“We insist connected an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire,” Zelenskyy wrote connected societal media, successful accordance pinch a connection he said nan U.S. tabled six weeks ago.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a property convention successful Kyiv, Ukraine, connected Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

via Associated Press

Ukraine and immoderate Western European governments person accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of dragging his feet connected that connection arsenic his service tries to seizure much Ukrainian land. Western analysts opportunity Moscow is successful nary unreserved to reason bid talks because it has battlefield momentum.

Doubts complete negotiations

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said nan talks successful London to find an extremity to nan more than three-year war would impact only lower-ranking officials, aft nan U.S. State Department said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was incapable to be because of a scheduling issue.

Rubio’s abrupt cancellation raised doubts astir nan guidance of negotiations. He had indicated that Wednesday’s gathering could beryllium decisive successful determining whether nan Trump management remains engaged.

Commenting connected those attending nan talks, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that “as acold arsenic we understand, they truthful acold person grounded to bring their positions person connected immoderate issues.” He said nan Kremlin was still successful consultations pinch American officials but wouldn’t publically talk details.

U.S. typical envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to sojourn Moscow again later this week, according to Russian officials.

A Russian drone struck a autobus carrying workers successful Marganets, successful eastbound Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region connected Wednesday morning, sidesplitting 8 women and 1 man, location caput Serhii Lysak wrote connected societal media. More than 40 group were injured, he said.

Lysak published photos of a autobus pinch windows blown retired and shards of solid mixed pinch humor spattered connected its floor.

A Ukrainian delegation successful London

Trump has pushed for an extremity to nan warfare and said past week that negotiations were “coming to a head.” That remark came aft Rubio suggested nan U.S. mightiness soon backmost distant from negotiations if they don’t progress.

Those still attending Wednesday’s gathering see retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Andrii Yermak, nan caput of Ukraine’s statesmanlike office, said connected societal media that a delegation including him, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had arrived successful London for nan talks contempt nan alterations.

“The way to bid is not easy, but Ukraine has been and remains committed to serene efforts,” Yermak said. Officials would “discuss ways to execute a afloat and unconditional ceasefire arsenic nan first measurement toward a broad colony and nan accomplishment of a conscionable and lasting peace.”

Several hours later, Yermak said that he, Sybiha and Umerov met pinch nationalist information and overseas argumentation advisors from nan countries “participating successful nan conjugation of nan willing” and “emphasized our commitment” to nan U.S. president’s bid efforts.

He asserted connected societal media that “Russia continues to cull an unconditional ceasefire, dragging retired nan process and trying to manipulate negotiations.”

President Donald Trump speaks pinch reporters aft signing executive orders successful nan Oval Office of nan White House, Wednesday, April 23, 2025, successful Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

via Associated Press

Trump disappointment pinch some sides

Trump said repeatedly during his predetermination run past twelvemonth that he would beryllium capable to extremity nan warfare “in 24 hours” upon taking office. But he has expressed frustration pinch Zelenskyy and Putin. Russia has efficaciously rejected a U.S. connection for an contiguous and afloat 30-day halt successful nan fighting by imposing far-reaching conditions.

Some European friends are wary of nan American connection for Ukraine to speech onshore for peace. But an charismatic said there’s besides acknowledgment by immoderate friends that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly aliases partially successful 5 regions of Ukraine: Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

If nan extremity is to get a ceasefire immediately, “it should beryllium based connected nan statement of interaction arsenic it is,” said nan elder French official, who said connected information of anonymity successful statement pinch French statesmanlike policy.

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Novikov reported from Kyiv and Madhani from Washington. Hanna Arhirova successful Kyiv, Ukraine and Angela Charlton successful Paris contributed.

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