Tensions between the United States President, Donald Trump administration and Ukrainian leadership resurfaced on Wednesday, even as diplomatic efforts continued in London aimed at halting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump took to his Truth Social account to criticize Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the latter dismissed a proposal to concede Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, as part of a potential peace deal.
Zelenskyy had declared, “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here.” In response, Trump posted that such “inflammatory statements” undermine peace talks and would only “prolong the ‘killing field.’”
U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance, speaking during an official visit to India, revealed that Washington had made a “very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians,” and pressed both sides for a decision, warning that if they failed to agree, “it’s time for the United States to walk away from this process.”
Vance elaborated that the U.S. offer would involve “a freeze on the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,” meaning both Moscow and Kyiv would have to relinquish control of certain regions they currently hold.
At the White House, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Trump’s “patience is running very thin,” indicating mounting frustration over the stalemated negotiations.
Talks held in London between U.S., Ukrainian, and European representatives saw a downgrade in participation, with U.S. special envoy Keith Kellogg attending in place of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who canceled his appearance.
France and Germany also pulled their ministers from the session. While the British Foreign Office refrained from commenting or responding to inquiries, Foreign Secretary David Lammy noted online that he had a “valuable meeting” with Ukraine’s foreign and defense officials. Kellogg echoed the sentiment on X, saying he held “positive talks” with Zelenskyy’s chief of staff.
Rubio and Lammy had previously had what they termed a “productive” phone call ahead of the meetings.
Although Trump campaigned on a promise to swiftly end the Ukraine conflict, policy analysts suggest that his administration appears less inclined toward long-term diplomatic engagement.
Ian Lesser of the German Marshall Fund, a former State Department official, commented, “This is not necessarily an administration that is committed to patient, long-term diplomacy… if there aren’t ready prospects of success, I imagine the attention span may be short.”
In a separate announcement, the White House confirmed that special envoy Steve Witkoff would return to Moscow this week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the fourth time, continuing backchannel discussions on a potential ceasefire.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Le Point magazine that for peace to be possible, Ukrainian forces must withdraw from four contested regions now claimed by Russia.
He also reiterated Moscow’s broader demands, which include the lifting of international sanctions, an assurance that Ukraine will not join NATO, and additional conditions.
Secretary of State Rubio is scheduled to meet his French counterpart in Paris on Thursday to discuss progress toward brokering a ceasefire.
One of the key points of contention in ongoing U.S.-European coordination is the Trump administration’s expectation that Ukraine make significant concessions, which contrasts sharply with European governments’ approach.
France, Germany, and the U.K. continue to advocate for robust military and economic support to Kyiv to ensure that Russia is compelled to negotiate from a more balanced position.
European concerns escalated this week after President Zelenskyy claimed to possess intelligence indicating that China had begun supplying Russia with weaponry, including artillery and gunpowder.
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have urged the U.S. to commit to Ukraine’s long-term security and contribute to its post-war rebuilding efforts.
“The terms that the Trump administration is pushing to settle this conflict run completely counter to European interests,” noted Neil Melvin, international security director at the Royal United Services Institute. “And it looks, I think, particularly from a European perspective, as though the United States is now siding more with the aggressor in the war than the victim.”
Trump has previously made the false claim that Ukraine was responsible for starting the war, and has repeatedly threatened to withdraw all U.S. support for Ukraine’s defense.
Even as diplomatic wrangling continued, violence on the ground did not relent. Ukrainian officials reported that a Russian drone strike targeted a civilian bus in the eastern city of Marganets on Wednesday, killing nine workers.
