U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out on Sunday at both key figures in Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, expressing frustration over the deadlock in ceasefire negotiations.
Initially, Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for questioning the credibility of Ukraine’s leader, Volodymyr Zelensky, as a viable negotiating partner. He stated he was “very angry, pissed off” at the Kremlin chief for making such remarks.
However, his tone later softened towards Putin as he shifted his frustration onto Zelensky, warning that Ukraine would face “big, big problems” if its leader hesitated to finalize a deal granting U.S. companies exclusive rights to Ukrainian rare earth minerals.
Pushing for a Ceasefire Deal
Trump has been actively trying to broker peace between Ukraine and Russia, advocating for a settlement that includes American access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral resources.
Earlier in the day, NBC News journalist Kristen Welker reported that Trump had called her to express anger over Putin’s remarks about Zelensky’s leadership. At the same time, Trump opposed imposing secondary tariffs on firms dealing in Russian oil.
Speaking to reporters later aboard his plane en route to Washington from his Mar-a-Lago resort, Trump adjusted his stance.
“I was disappointed in some ways,” he said. “Putin is supposed to be negotiating with Zelensky, whether he likes him or not. I didn’t like what he said, but I think things will work out.”
But Trump’s frustration then turned toward Zelensky, accusing him of reconsidering the rare earth mineral deal.
“I see he’s trying to back out of the deal. If he does that, he’s got some problems—big, big problems,” Trump warned. “He wants to be in NATO, but that was never going to happen, and he knows that. If he tries to renegotiate, he’s in trouble.”
No Breakthrough in Peace Talks
Despite Trump’s efforts to bring an end to the war, his administration has struggled to secure a breakthrough.
Putin recently rejected a U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, instead suggesting that Zelensky be removed from office as part of the peace process.
As U.S.-Russia relations warm following Trump’s return to office, his wavering support for Ukraine has strengthened Moscow’s position on the battlefield. Russian forces have intensified their offensive, launching fresh attacks on Kharkiv and capturing a village near the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Zelensky Responds to Putin’s Challenge
Putin, who has ruled Russia for 25 years, has repeatedly questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy as president. Since Ukraine suspended elections due to the ongoing conflict, Zelensky’s term officially ended in May 2024. However, both domestic and international allies have backed his continued leadership, arguing that elections should not be held until the war is over.
Trump’s own relationship with Zelensky has been rocky, with the U.S. president previously calling him a “dictator” and publicly clashing with him at the White House last month.
In his latest address, Zelensky urged Ukraine’s allies to increase pressure on Russia.
“America has had a ceasefire proposal on the table for too long without any real response from Russia,” Zelensky said. “A ceasefire could already be in place if there was enough pressure on Putin.”