Trump is irritated by Crimea's Ukrainian stance as we back off the conversation
U.S. President Donald Trump once again slammed Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, with his Secretary of State Marco Rubio succumbing to planned talks between European officials in the United States, Ukraine and London at the last minute to end Russia's war in Ukraine.
Rubio's failure prompted a wider meeting of foreign ministers from Ukraine, Britain, France and Germany to be cancelled, although negotiations remain on a lower level, with Ukrainian envoy Keith Kellogg participating.
The meeting was a follow-up to a similar meeting held last week with U.S., Ukrainian and European officials in Paris. During these talks, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, published a paper to the participants outlining the suggestions that Ukraine, especially Russia, and also required concessions, which the three diplomats realized.
But sources said that in the U.S. proposal, people recognized that Russia illegally annexed Crimea, a move that would not begin for Europe and Ukraine.
Zelenskyy told the Wall Street Journal in a report Wednesday that prompted Trump to promote the Ukrainian president's “inflammatory statements” on social media, which are “very harmful to peace talks.” Trump's outbreak sparked a White House meeting in late February, where he and Vice President JD Vance accused Zelenskyy of lack of gratitude for their lack of gratitude for the war's military aid to Ukraine.
“The situation in Ukraine is terrible – he can keep peace, or he can fight for another three years before losing his entire country,” Trump said on Wednesday's truth social network.
Trump also re-accused former U.S. President Barack Obama of allowing Russian rebels to invade Crimea in the mid-2010s.
Ukrainian Deputy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on social media that Kiev will not recognize Crimea's Russian sovereignty.
Svyrydenko wrote on X: “Ukraine is ready to negotiate, but do not surrender.
British talks fell after Rubio evacuated
Rubio and Trump both warned last week that Washington could get rid of talks involving Ukraine and Russia if there is no sooner progress in the deal.
Rubio spoke to British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Tuesday night and said he was looking forward to rescheduling his trip within a few months following Wednesday's “technical meeting.”
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was disappointed by Rubio's sudden cancellation and said the negotiations involved “a substantive technical meeting with European, American and Ukrainian officials on how to stop the fight” triggered by the Russian comprehensive 2022 2022 invasion.
“We remain absolutely committed to ensuring just and lasting peace in Ukraine, and these conversations today are an important part of this,” the spokesperson said.
The negotiations were demoted after a deadly drone attack in the Ukrainian city of Marhanets earlier on Wednesday. A Russian drone hit a bus, killing nine people and injuring nearly 50 people, Keeff officials said.
Zelenskyy said buses are transporting workers at mining and processing plants.
“A normal bus. Obviously a civilian object, a civilian target,” Zelenskyy said on X.
Rubio said last week that a framework for a peace agreement proposed by him and Witkoff in Paris received encouraging reception.
But several sources told Reuters that some of Washington's proposals are unacceptable for European countries and Kiev. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on Tuesday that Europeans gave the United States detailed what they believed to be an unnegotiable aspect of a potential peace agreement.
Diplomats told Reuters that besides Crimea there are other major crux of the country, including the push for Russia's sanctions on the European Union before the negotiations ended, and Europe firmly opposed it.
European diplomats said Washington last week proposed a neutral zone at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Tuesday he will be ready to work with the United States to restart the plant.
Ukraine and Europeans also need to accept Russian control over the remaining 20% of Ukraine's territory. In addition, NATO-Ukraine membership will be excluded and the United States will begin lifting sanctions on Russia.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said he will travel to Washington on Thursday to plan to hold talks with Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz.
Putin touts weapons production, but wants more
Some of Washington's ideas may also displeased Moscow. The U.S. has not prompted Russia to demand non-military Ukraine rather than oppose European forces, as part of Ukraine's future security assurance, two diplomats said.
The White House said Vidoc will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Russia this week.
Russia appears to be heading in the opposite direction when the United States tries to push Ukraine toward a ceasefire. CBC's Terence McKenna looks at the latest moves and why some think Vladimir Putin may have tried to manipulate Donald Trump through his billionaire real estate buddy.
Putin's comments on Wednesday indicated that Russia intends to further boost military production in its fourth year of the Ukrainian war, even as it negotiates the prospect of an end to a conflict.
While 1.5 million drones of various types were produced last year, “these weapons are still not enough.” Putin said at a meeting of the State Military Industry Commission.
