By Charles Switzer
2:32am PDT, Apr 25, 2025
Trump's Stark Warning to Zelenskyy
On Wednesday, April 23, President
Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Ukrainian President
Volodymyr Zelensky, suggesting that Kyiv's leader was facing a "dire" situation, the
New York Post reported.
Trump emphasized to reporters that Zelensky "can have peace, or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole country."
This comment came after Zelensky told journalists that Ukraine would not legally recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea, which Trump claimed undermined peace negotiations. Trump expressed his frustration with Zelensky's stance, describing the situation as harmful to ongoing peace talks with Russia.
"This statement is very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President
Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion," Trump posted on Truth Social, referencing that region's fall to Russian President
Vladimir Putin's forces in 2014, which laid the groundwork for the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.
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Trump's View on the Peace Process
In the Oval Office, Donald Trump expressed his belief that Russia is ready to make a peace deal but questioned Ukraine's readiness to reach an agreement.
"I think we have a deal with Russia, and we have to get a deal with Zelensky," Trump said. "A lot of people said Russia wanted to go through the whole thing, and I think we have a deal with Russia, and I hope that Zelensky, I thought it's been so far, it's been hard."
Despite Moscow's resistance to direct talks with the U.S. and ongoing tensions, Trump remained hopeful about a potential resolution: "That's okay, but I think we have a deal with both," he added.
Russian Response and Zelensky's Stance
While Donald Trump remained optimistic about a deal, Russian officials, including Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, expressed skepticism. Peskov described Trump's push for a peace agreement as "futile," and Moscow continued to resist face-to-face meetings with U.S. officials.
At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky's refusal to acknowledge Russia's annexation of Crimea created additional friction. Trump criticized Zelensky's statement, claiming it would only prolong the conflict: "It's inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy's that makes it so difficult to settle this war."
White House Frustration
White House Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt responded to questions about Trump's comments, stating that the president's patience with Volodymyr Zelensky is "running very thin."
She emphasized that peace negotiations require both sides to compromise: "In order to make a good deal, both sides have to walk away a little bit unhappy," Leavitt said. "Unfortunately, President Zelensky has been trying to litigate this peace negotiation in the press, and that's unacceptable to the president."
Leavitt also pointed out that Trump's national security team had dedicated significant resources to ending the war: "The American taxpayer has funded billions of dollars in this effort, and enough is enough," she said, reiterating the president's desire to see peace and an end to the conflict.
A Shift in U.S. Foreign Policy
The debate over Crimea represents a major shift in U.S. foreign policy under Donald Trump's administration.
The U.S. is now considering formally recognizing Crimea as part of Russia, a move that would reverse long-standing policy. The shift is significant, as the U.S. historically adhered to the Welles Declaration, which declared non-recognition of Soviet annexations. Trump's proposal would signal a drastic change in America's stance on territorial sovereignty.
"I think the time has come for a change, but we will only recognize Crimea as part of Russia if we can secure peace in the region," Trump said.
This stance reportedly raises questions about the future direction of U.S. foreign policy and the implications for international relations, particularly about other territorial disputes.
