Trump slams Putin’s proposal for 'transitional administration' in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday expressed strong frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he was “very angry” over Putin’s lack of confidence in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Trump called Moscow’s proposal for a transitional administration in Ukraine “unacceptable.”

“I am very upset. Putin’s stance on Zelensky is infuriating,” Trump said, criticizing the Russian leader’s repeated efforts to undermine the Ukrainian president’s legitimacy. The U.S. president’s remarks come as he prepares for a scheduled meeting with Putin later this week.

On Friday, Putin reiterated his longstanding push to replace Zelensky, suggesting a Moscow-friendly transitional government as part of a potential peace process. The Russian leader, who has been in power for 25 years, has frequently questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, arguing that his five-year term ended in May 2024.

Under Ukrainian law, elections are suspended during major military conflicts, and Zelensky’s political opponents have agreed that no vote should be held until the war ends.