U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that he believes a peace agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin is within reach to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, he expressed frustration with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, whom he described as “hard to work with,” citing Zelenskyy’s refusal to concede Crimea to Russia as a significant obstacle to finalizing the deal.
The proposed U.S.-led peace plan reportedly includes Ukraine ceding control of Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine to Russia, a commitment to remain outside of NATO, and accepting U.S. oversight of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. In return, Ukraine would receive security guarantees and economic incentives.
Zelenskyy has firmly rejected these terms, emphasizing that recognizing the annexation of Crimea would violate Ukraine’s constitution. Trump criticized this stance, stating that Ukraine has “no cards to play” and warning that continued resistance could prolong the conflict.
Vice President JD Vance has indicated that if both Ukraine and Russia do not accept the proposed deal, the United States may withdraw from its mediation efforts.
The peace negotiations have been met with skepticism from European leaders and have largely excluded Ukraine and its allies from direct involvement. Despite ongoing discussions, the future of the agreement remains uncertain, hinging on Ukraine’s acceptance of the controversial terms.
