Is Zelensky Really ‘Not Ready’? Breaking Down Trump’s Latest Comment on the War Proposal
In a comment that has added another layer of complexity to stalled peace talks, President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “isn’t ready” to endorse a U.S.-drafted proposal to end the war with Russia. The remark came just after American and Ukrainian negotiators concluded three days of discussions in Florida aimed at narrowing differences over the plan.
Trump expressed disappointment, telling reporters, “I’m a little bit disappointed that President Zelensky hasn’t yet read the proposal, that was as of a few hours ago. His people love it, but he hasn’t.” He added, “Russia is, I believe, fine with it, but I’m not sure that Zelensky’s fine with it.”
These statements stand in contrast to Zelensky’s own update following a “substantive phone call” with U.S. officials involved in the talks. On social media, he affirmed that “Ukraine is determined to keep working in good faith with the American side to genuinely achieve peace.”
A Plan Without Putin’s Public Approval
While Trump suggested Russia was “fine with” the proposal, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly endorsed it. In fact, last week Putin described certain aspects of Trump’s plan as unworkable, despite analysts noting the draft initially leaned favorably toward Moscow.
Trump’s relationship with Zelensky has been strained since the president began his second term criticizing U.S. spending on the war and openly urging Ukraine to cede territory to Russia to end the conflict. The latest comments reflect that persistent pressure.
Broader Signals from Washington and Moscow
The timing of Trump’s criticism coincided with Russia’s positive reaction to the administration’s newly released National Security Strategy. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov noted the document opposes confrontation and favors dialogue, expressing hope it would lead to “constructive cooperation with Washington on the Ukrainian settlement.”
The strategy explicitly states a U.S. interest in improving relations with Russia and ending the war to “reestablish strategic stability.”
What’s Really Holding Up a Deal?
According to Trump’s outgoing Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, the negotiations are in the “last 10 meters.” The remaining obstacles reportedly center on two issues: control of the Donbas region—most of which Russia currently occupies—and the status of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is under Russian control and requires stable power to prevent a nuclear incident.
War Continues Amid Diplomacy
Even as talks persist, the war grinds on. Russian attacks over the weekend killed at least four Ukrainians, targeting energy infrastructure and residential areas—a continuation of what Kyiv calls Moscow’s strategy of “weaponizing” winter conditions against civilians.
Trump’s framing of Zelensky as the hesitant party shifts diplomatic attention squarely onto Kyiv, despite Ukraine’s continued engagement in talks and Russia’s ongoing assaults. Whether this reflects a genuine stalemate or a negotiating tactic remains unclear, but the comment undoubtedly raises the stakes for Zelensky, who must balance domestic resistance to territorial concessions with the urgency of securing a sustainable peace.
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