TRANSCRIPT
Donald Trump has lashed out against Volodymyr Zelenskyy again following their White House argument, in which he told the Ukrainian president to not come back until he is ready for peace.
“President Zelenskyy supposedly made a statement today on AP, I'm not a big fan of AP, so maybe it was an incorrect statement, but he said he thinks the war is going to go on for a long time and he'd better not be right about that. That's all I'm saying.”
Well, that's exactly what Ukraine's president had said.
"An agreement to end the war is still very, very far away, and no one has started all these steps yet."
Posting on his social media platform, Truth Social, Mr Trump has written:
"This is the worst statement that could have been made by Zelenskyy, and America will not put up with it for much longer! It is what I was saying, this guy doesn’t want there to be Peace as long as he has America’s backing and, Europe, in the meeting they had with Zelenskyy, stated flatly that they cannot do the job without the US – probably not a great statement to have been made in terms of a show of strength against Russia. What are they thinking?"
Now a White House official says President Trump has ordered a pause on military aid to Ukraine.
"The President is committed to peace and expects the same from our partners. We are reviewing aid to ensure it supports that goal," the official said.
A separate source has confirmed the suspension applies to all military equipment not yet delivered to Ukraine.
Nonetheless, Mr Zelenskyy still hopes to rely on US support once he and Mr Trump patch things up.
"I believe that Ukraine has a strong enough partnership with the United States of America. From the very beginning of a full-scale invasion, they were probably the strongest partner, because before that there was probably no such level of support from the United States - before the beginning of the full-scale invasion. ... And as for saving the relationship, as you said - I think our relationship with the US will continue because it's more than a relationship of one moment or another."
But now, the US President is suggesting that President Zelenskyy or, as he says, 'somebody', won't be around much longer.
"We have to make a deal, and the deal should be made very fast, it should not be that hard a deal to make, it could be made very fast. Now, maybe 'somebody' doesn't want to make a deal and if 'somebody' doesn't want to make a deal, that person won't be around very long. That person will not be listened to very long."
Bronwen Maddox is Director and Chief Executive of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, a London-based analysis centre.
She says a coalition of willing European nations could help mend the rift between the United States and Ukraine.
"It's possible that the'coalition of the willing' can turn things around in terms of the dynamics of peace talks. I think the show of a substantial commitment by Europe, by a handful of self-selected European nations, would do something to say that Europe must be a part of it. It's not just pleading to be given a seat at the table, it must be given a part of it, because here is what it is going to offer."
Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy says his country needs proper diplomacy to bring an end to the three-year conflict.
He had been attending a weekend meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other Western leaders, where they agreed to draw up a Ukraine peace plan to present to the United States.
"Today, we continued our work with European partners on a special diplomatic and security architecture, an architecture that can bring peace closer. This is something we discussed in London recently and before that with many world leaders. Ukraine, all of Europe, and America, together, we can ensure decades of stability. To achieve this, we must be constructive, work together, complement each other’s proposals, and accelerate diplomacy to end the war."
European countries, led by Britain and France, are looking at options for a peace proposal, including Ukraine.
At the weekend summit, France and Britain proposed a one-month ceasefire.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot says a 30-day ceasefire would be a prerequisite for any talks about a permanent deal to end the war.
“It’s a prerequisite because this ceasefire - air and sea and on energy infrastructure - will enable us to attest to the good faith of Vladimir Putin when he commits to this ceasefire. It is then that real negotiations for peace will start, because we want peace but we want a solid and lasting peace, a peace that will definitely end what’s happening at the east of the European continent for 15 years."
Meanwhile, Russia has dismissed European leaders’ latest pledges of military aid to Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says they do not relate to a peace plan but will instead fuel fighting.
"Statements were heard over there that funding of Ukraine must be increased. This clearly does not relate to a peace plan, but for the continuation of hostilities. This is our understanding. The rest will depend upon what the peace plans will be developed and brought up for discussion."
He argued that real peace efforts would require pressuring President Zelenskyy to shift his stance.
"It's very important that someone forces Zelenskyy himself to change his position. He doesn't want peace. Someone must make Zelenskyy want peace."
He also warned of “grave legal consequences” if frozen Russian assets were transferred to Ukraine.
"This sort of actions (handing frozen Russian assets over to Ukraine) cannot be left without consequences, very serious ones. Of course, we perceive this exclusively as illegal intentions. Should there be any attempts to fulfil these intentions, there will be grave legal consequences."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced a plan which she aims to present to member states this week.
"Just procedure-wise, of course I'm intensively preparing the European Council together with (European Council) President (Antonio) Costa and indeed tomorrow I will inform the member States through a letter about the Re-arm Europe plan. We need a massive surge in defence without any question. We want lasting peace but lasting peace can only be built on strength and strength begins with strengthening ourselves."
