Trump faults Zelenskyy over peace talks, blames Ukraine for war as US-Russia negotiations advance

U.S. President Donald Trump criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday for complaining about Ukraine’s exclusion from U.S.-Russia talks aimed at ending the war, suggesting Kyiv could have prevented the conflict.

Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump expressed disappointment at Ukraine’s reaction to being left out of the negotiations.

“I’m very disappointed, I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat [at the talks]”, Trump said. “You’ve been there for three years… You should have never started it. You could have made a deal”.

The president increased pressure on Zelenskyy to hold elections – echoing one of Moscow’s key demands – while suggesting he might meet Russian President Vladimir Putin before month’s end.

Zelenskyy earlier criticised the bilateral talks, saying peace efforts must be “fair” and include European countries.

He defended his popularity in an interview with German broadcaster ARD, citing his initial election victory with 73% of the vote.

Trump claimed Ukraine’s leader had a “4% approval rating” and described the country as “blown to smithereens” with collapsed buildings resembling “a massive demolition site”.

The president expressed increased confidence about reaching a peace deal following the talks, saying: “Russia wants to do something. They want to stop the savage barbarianism”.

He voiced support for European peacekeepers in Ukraine if a deal is reached, specifically mentioning offers from France and Britain, while noting the U.S. would not need to contribute due to its distance.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has stated Russia would not accept NATO peacekeeping forces in Ukraine under any peace agreement.

European officials urged maintaining unity with Ukraine. EU High Representative Kaja Kallas tweeted that Russia would “try to divide us” and called for cooperation to achieve “a just and lasting peace – on Ukraine’s terms.”

Trump revealed last week he had spoken with Putin, announcing plans for reciprocal visits to Moscow and Washington, with a potential first meeting in Saudi Arabia.