In a recent development, U.S. President Donald Trump has attributed responsibility for the ongoing conflict with Russia to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump expressed disappointment over Ukraine’s exclusion from U.S.-Russia peace talks held in Saudi Arabia, suggesting that Kyiv could have averted the war through earlier negotiations. He stated, “Today I heard, ‘Oh, well, we weren’t invited.’ Well, you’ve been there for three years… You should have never started it. You could have made a deal.”
These remarks coincide with high-level discussions between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh. The talks aim to establish a framework for ending the conflict in Ukraine and improving bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia. Notably, Ukrainian representatives were absent from these negotiations, a decision that has drawn criticism from Kyiv and European allies.
President Trump also emphasized the need for Ukraine to hold elections, aligning with one of Moscow’s key demands. He questioned the legitimacy of Zelensky’s leadership, citing the prolonged period without elections due to martial law in Ukraine. Trump remarked, “They want a seat at the table, but you could say… wouldn’t the people of Ukraine have a say? It’s been a long time since we’ve had an election.”
These developments have raised concerns among European leaders about potential concessions to Russia and the exclusion of Ukraine from critical peace negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron announced plans for additional discussions in Paris, emphasizing the importance of European involvement in the peace process.
The situation remains dynamic, with ongoing debates about the roles of various stakeholders in achieving a sustainable resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
