United States President Donald Trump has effectively placed the blame for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
This comes as French President, Emmanuel Macron, prepares for further discussions with European and non-European leaders on Wednesday.
Zelensky had earlier criticized U.S.-Russia negotiations for sidelining Kyiv, insisting that any resolution to the war must be “fair” and involve European nations.
His remarks appeared to irritate Trump, who responded with a series of pointed comments.
“I’m very disappointed, I hear that they’re upset about not having a seat,” Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Tuesday.
“Today I heard, ‘oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years… You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
Trump also hinted at a possible meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saudi Arabia before the end of the month as he redefines Washington’s stance on Moscow, a shift that has unsettled European leaders.
US-Russia Talks Draw Kyiv’s Ire
On Tuesday, the U.S. and Russia reached an agreement to form negotiation teams to explore a path toward ending the war in Ukraine.
This move, however, provoked a strong reaction from Kyiv, leading Zelensky to postpone his planned visit to Saudi Arabia.
In response to the US-Russia talks, France’s Macron announced another meeting in Paris regarding Ukraine, noting that Trump “can restart a useful dialogue” with Putin.
Trump also applied pressure on Zelensky to conduct elections, aligning with one of Moscow’s key demands.
Trump Calls for Ukrainian Elections
When asked about Russia’s push for elections in Ukraine as part of any potential agreement, Trump took the opportunity to criticize Zelensky’s approval ratings.
“They want a seat at the table, but you could say… wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have a say? It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election,” Trump remarked.
“That’s not a Russian thing, that’s something coming from me, from other countries.”
Zelensky, elected in 2019 for a five-year term, has remained in office under martial law due to the ongoing war.
Trump’s remarks are unlikely to ease European concerns, as many leaders fear Washington might make major concessions to Moscow, potentially reshaping Europe’s security architecture in a manner reminiscent of Cold War diplomacy.
Although Washington acknowledged that European nations would eventually need to be included in peace negotiations, the initial high-level U.S.-Russia talks—the first since Moscow’s 2022 invasion, sparked alarm in Kyiv.
“This will only be feeding Putin’s appetite,” a senior Ukrainian official told AFP, speaking anonymously.
Trump, however, expressed optimism following the discussions in Riyadh, stating: “I think I have the power to end this war.”
Russia and US Establish Dialogue
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov agreed to appoint high-level teams to negotiate an end to the conflict “as soon as possible,” according to the State Department.
Both sides also decided to set up a “consultation mechanism” to manage tensions in their relationship, with Washington noting that these efforts could lay the groundwork for broader cooperation in the future.
The diplomatic initiative in Riyadh marks a significant breakthrough for Moscow, which had faced international isolation under President Joe Biden’s administration.
Russia’s economic negotiator, Kirill Dmitriev, dismissed Western efforts to isolate Moscow, stating they had “obviously failed.”
“We did not just listen but heard each other, and I have reason to believe the American side has better understood our position,” Lavrov told reporters.
He emphasized Russia’s opposition to any NATO deployment in Ukraine as part of a ceasefire agreement.
Europe Divided Over Troop Deployment
European allies remain split on whether to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine.
Macron, in an interview with French regional newspapers, signaled a cautious openness to the idea, suggesting that troops could be deployed in a limited capacity away from active combat zones.
Following an emergency meeting in Paris with a select group of European nations, Macron announced that further discussions would include both European and non-European states.
Meanwhile, Moscow reiterated its long-standing demand for NATO’s withdrawal from Eastern Europe, viewing the alliance’s expansion as a direct threat.
The Kremlin also stated on Tuesday that while Ukraine has the right to pursue EU membership, it cannot join NATO. Additionally, it affirmed that Putin remains “ready” to negotiate with Zelensky “if necessary.”
