WASHINGTON:
Former U.S. President Donald Trump launched a fresh attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, criticizing his remarks about the ongoing war with Russia.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump reacted to an Associated Press article titled “Ukraine’s Zelensky Says End of War with Russia Is ‘Very, Very Far Away.’” Trump called Zelensky’s statement “the worst that could have been made” and warned that the U.S. would not tolerate such comments for much longer.
European Peace Efforts
Meanwhile, Britain stated on Monday that multiple proposals for a potential ceasefire in Ukraine were under discussion. This followed a French initiative suggesting an initial one-month truce as a step toward broader peace negotiations.
In response to last week’s tense Oval Office meeting between Trump and Zelensky, European nations—led by Britain and France—are working to develop a diplomatic framework involving Ukraine.
“There are a number of possibilities on the table,” a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said. “However, we are not going to provide a running commentary on these discussions.”
U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz commented on Europe’s efforts, stating, “We welcome Europe stepping up for its own security, but they must also invest in the necessary military capabilities to do so.”
France, Britain, and other European nations have reportedly considered deploying troops to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire. However, they emphasize that such an initiative would require backing from the United States, which is being discussed as a “backstop” security measure.
Zelensky has maintained that any ceasefire agreement must include concrete security guarantees from Western nations to prevent future Russian aggression. Since its full-scale invasion three years ago, Russia has occupied approximately 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Trump, however, has declined to provide any such guarantees.
During a European summit in London on Sunday, Starmer and other European leaders agreed to develop a formal Ukraine peace proposal, which will later be presented to the United States.
