US President Donald Trump escalated his criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, saying that he does not find Zelensky's attendance necessary in talks to bring an end to the current Russia-Ukraine conflict.
During a conversation with Fox News, Trump disclosed that he had "good talks" with Russian President Putin but not Ukrainian leaders, amid US efforts for diplomatic solutions to end the three-year war. But he then conceded that Zelensky and Putin both "would have to get together" for peace to be declared.
Trump's Change of Mind on Zelensky
Trump's comments are made against the backdrop of escalating tensions between him and the Ukrainian president. Earlier, Trump had attacked Zelensky as a "dictator with elections" after the Ukrainian president complained that his nation—invaded by Russia in 2022—was being left out of US-Russia diplomatic negotiations.
I don't think he's very important to be in meetings," Trump told Fox News in an audio interview. "He has been there for three years. He makes it very hard to make deals."
The US President went on to claim that Ukraine "doesn't have any cards" to play in negotiations.
I have talked very nicely with Putin, and I haven't had as good talks with Ukraine. They don't have any cards, but they do play it tough. But we are not going to let this keep going," Trump remarked at a meeting of US governors at the White House.
Ukraine Left Out of Saudi Peace Talks
Trump's remarks come after Russian officials and senior diplomats in Saudi Arabia met earlier this week to discuss a possible ceasefire. Significantly, Ukraine was not invited to join the negotiations.
Trump-Zelensky Rift Worsens
Trump's rift with Zelensky worsened when the US president inaccurately stated that Ukraine "started" the war and attacked Zelensky for complaining that he was left out of peace talks.
"He gripes about the fact that he is not in a meeting that we are having with Saudi Arabia to broker peace," Trump stated. "He has been in meetings for three years and nothing has happened."
Ukraine's Mineral Rights Agreement with the US
In a White House press conference, Trump indicated that Ukraine would be expected to pay back the US for the tens of billions of dollars of assistance rendered under his predecessor Joe Biden. He specified that Kyiv would be anticipated to sign an agreement offering preferred access to its immense mineral wealth for US corporations.
"They are very courageous, in all manners you can think of. But we are spending our fortune on some nation that's very, very distant," Trump said.
As per AFP, Ukraine wants security guarantees from America in return for awarding these rights. Though Zelensky has turned down the deal, he said on Friday that he was expecting a "just outcome."
Trump Slams Macron and Starmer Over Ukraine Position
Trump also lashed out at French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who are both visiting the White House next week for potentially contentious meetings on the crisis in Ukraine.
Macron, reacting to Trump's attack, declared, "You can't be weak with President Putin."
But Trump rejected Macron's position, declaring, "They haven't done anything. Macron is a friend of mine, and I have met with the Prime Minister (Starmer), and he's a very nice guy, but nobody's done anything."
In the meantime, UK opposition leader Ed Davey charged Trump with orchestrating a "stitch-up" agreement with Putin that would betray Ukraine and called on Starmer to make a robust assertion on his White House visit, as reported by PA Media.
