US President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reportedly cursing and dismissing battlefield maps while urging him to accept Russia’s terms to end the ongoing war. According to a Financial Times report, Trump warned Zelenskyy that Russian President Vladimir Putin had vowed to "destroy" Ukraine if it rejected the deal, escalating tensions in a meeting described as a "shouting match." The encounter, which took place on Friday, reflects Trump’s aggressive push for a resolution following the recent Israel-Hamas ceasefire.
Trump, fresh from a Thursday call with Putin, initially demanded Ukraine surrender the entire Donbas region, brushing off detailed frontline maps presented by the Ukrainian delegation as he expressed frustration with their counteroffensive efforts. Later, he softened his stance, advocating a freeze along current battle lines, but rejected Zelenskyy’s requests for advanced US weaponry like Tomahawk missiles. The meeting highlighted a stark divide, with Trump echoing Putin’s rhetoric and dismissing Ukraine’s military strategy, while Zelenskyy sought stronger international support to bolster Kyiv’s position.
Putin’s latest proposal, relayed to Trump, offers Ukraine minor territorial concessions in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in exchange for ceding remaining Donbas territories—a retreat from his August demand in Alaska for Ukraine to relinquish Donbas, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea entirely. Ukrainian officials, however, slammed the proposal as "unacceptable," arguing it legitimizes Russian aggression without ensuring lasting peace. European diplomats noted Zelenskyy’s visible disappointment after the meeting, with hopes for increased US aid fading as Trump appeared to align with Putin’s narrative.
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The tense exchange echoed a February meeting where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for insufficient gratitude toward US support. European officials briefed on Friday’s talks revealed Trump spent much of the session "lecturing" Zelenskyy, reiterating Putin’s framing of the conflict. In response, Zelenskyy issued a Sunday statement urging "decisive steps" from the US, Europe, and G7 to secure a just end to the war. Meanwhile, Trump, in a Fox News interview, expressed confidence in brokering peace, noting Putin had already "won certain property" and announcing a second summit with the Russian leader in Budapest within two weeks. As diplomatic maneuvering intensifies, the White House and Zelenskyy’s office remain silent on the reported clash, leaving global observers bracing for the next chapter in this high-stakes drama.
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