KYIV, Ukraine — President Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday, accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the "killing field" after Zelenskyy pushed back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan.
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters Wednesday at the White House in Washington.
Ukraine's leader ruled out the idea of ceding territory to Russia in any deal Tuesday before talks set for Wednesday in London among U.S., European and Ukrainian officials. "There is nothing to talk about. It is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people," Zelenskyy said.
During in Paris, U.S. officials presented a proposal that included allowing Russia to keep control of occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a deal, according to a European official familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
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Trump called Zelenkyy's pushback "very harmful" to talks. "Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn't they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" he wrote on social media.
after sending troops to overrun it. Weeks later, Moscow-backed separatists launched an uprising in eastern Ukraine, battling Kyiv's forces.
Trump also asserted they were close to a deal and Ukraine's leader can have peace or "he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country," adding that Zelenskyy's statement "will do nothing but prolong the 'killing field,' and nobody wants that!"
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks Tuesday during a news conference in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Wednesday's meeting was pared back at the last minute, while Vice President JD Vance said negotiations are reaching a moment of truth.
"We've issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it's time for them to either say 'yes' or for the United States to walk away from this process," Vance told reporters during a visit to India.
He said it was "a very fair proposal" that would "freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today," with both sides having to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide details.
Trump, who is set to travel to Rome for Pope Francis's funeral on Saturday, told reporters later on Wednesday that he did not know if he would meet with Zelenskyy or other European leaders to discuss the war while in Italy. He also said he found dealing with Zelenskyy harder than dealing with the Russians.
Trump said it was “possible” he could meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin while in Saudi Arabia next month but it is more likely he will meet with the Russian leader after that trip.
A senior European official familiar with the ongoing talks involving the American team said a proposal the U.S. says is "final" initially was presented last week in Paris, where it was described as "just ideas" that could be changed.
When those "ideas" surfaced in media reports, Ukrainian officials were surprised to find Washington portrayed them as final, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
A damaged bus is seen Wednesday after it was hit by the Russian drone in Marhanets, Dnipropetrovsk region.
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Ukraine is ready for any format of negotiations that might bring a ceasefire and open the door to full peace negotiations, as he mourned nine civilians killed when a Russian drone struck a bus earlier in the day in Marganets, in eastern Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region.
More than 40 people were injured, regional head Serhii Lysak wrote on social media.
"We insist on an immediate, complete and unconditional ceasefire," Zelenskyy wrote on social media, in accordance with a proposal he said the U.S. tabled six weeks ago.
Ukraine and some Western European governments accused Putin of dragging his feet on that proposal as his army tries to capture more Ukrainian land.
Residents walk past damaged buildings Wednesday in central Pokrovsk, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine.
U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the talks in London to find an end to the would involve only lower-ranking officials, after the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that was unable to attend because of a scheduling issue.
Rubio's cancellation raised doubts about the direction of negotiations. He indicated Wednesday's meeting could be decisive in determining whether the Trump administration remains engaged.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, "as far as we understand, they so far have failed to bring their positions closer on some issues." He said the Kremlin was still in consultations with U.S. officials but wouldn't publicly discuss details.
An abandoned car sits near damaged buildings Wednesday in central Pokrovsk, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said on social media that a delegation including him, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arrived in London for the talks.
Hours later, Yermak said he, Sybiha and Umerov met with national security and foreign policy advisors from the countries “participating in the coalition of the willing” and “emphasized our commitment” to the U.S. president's peace efforts.
He asserted on social media that “Russia continues to reject an unconditional ceasefire, dragging out the process and trying to manipulate negotiations.”
Some European allies are wary of the American proposal for Ukraine to exchange land for peace. But an official said some allies acknowledge that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly or partially in five regions of Ukraine: Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
