Trump's Peace Proposal for Ukraine: Discontent and Doubts as Zelenskyy Remains Hesitant

Donald Trump recently expressed disappointment regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hesitance to endorse a peace proposal that the United States authored, which aims to terminate the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This remark came following three days of negotiations between officials from Washington and Kyiv in Florida. During a press conference on Sunday evening, Trump mentioned, "I'm a little bit disappointed that President Zelenskyy hasn't yet read the proposal that was, as of a few hours ago, loved by his people, but he hasn't." Despite this, Zelenskyy described the discussions as constructive yet challenging. He was poised to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as the leaders of France and Germany in London on Monday. The talks are expected to center on the lingering discussions between the US and Ukraine regarding the conflict. Starmer reiterated that the ultimate decision on Ukraine's future must rest with the nation itself, emphasizing the importance of a European peacekeeping force in ensuring Ukraine's security. Prompted by Trump's support for a Gaza ceasefire, the US has been striving to navigate a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia. While US officials claim to be on the brink of finalizing a deal, little progress is visible as both Ukraine and Russia remain unwilling to endorse the framework created by Trump’s negotiating team. When questioned about the proposal, Trump stated, "I believe Russia is fine with the deal, but I'm not sure that Zelenskyy's fine with it. His people love it, but he isn’t ready." Notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not publicly shown support for the US plan, previously characterizing parts of Trump’s proposal as unworkable. US diplomats, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Putin in the Kremlin last week but did not achieve a significant breakthrough. The US proposal has undergone multiple revisions since its inception last November, facing scrutiny for being perceived as overly lenient towards Russia. The path to peace has proven arduous, with persistent disagreements related to security guarantees for Kyiv and the status of Russian-controlled territories still unresolved. "The American representatives know the basic Ukrainian positions," Zelenskyy indicated in a video address on Sunday. Trump’s relationship with Zelenskyy has been characterized as fluctuating since he returned to the White House, with the former president frequently suggesting that Ukraine should concede land to Russia to mitigate the losses of life in the conflict. In a recent phone conversation with American officials engaged in ongoing discussions, Zelenskyy remained committed to collaborating in good faith to achieve a genuine resolution. On the same day as Trump’s remarks, the Russian government welcomed the Trump administration's revised national security strategy. Russian spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that the updated strategy aligns closely with Moscow's vision. The document, released on Friday, expresses the US intention to rehabilitate relations with Russia after years of being viewed as a global pariah. Interestingly, it also critiques European nations, warning of potential civilizational erosion on the continent. Keith Kellogg, Trump's outgoing envoy to Ukraine, stated at a defense forum on Saturday that the administration's efforts to bring an end to the war were nearing conclusion, with only two issues remaining: territory and the status of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Kellogg, considered sympathetic to Kyiv's stance, is set to vacate his position in January. Yet, many within Trump's administration, including Witkoff, have shown a willingness to adopt more Russian-friendly positions. Trump's son, Donald Jr., added at a forum in Doha on Sunday that Zelenskyy is fearfully prolonging the conflict, suggesting that he would risk losing power if a resolution were reached. He further declared that the US would no longer be the 'idiot with the checkbook.' As the negotiations continue, the future of Ukraine remains uncertain, with both international and domestic stakes resting heavily on the upcoming decisions. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2