President Donald Trump took aim at Volodymyr Zelensky in a lengthy Truth Social post Wednesday after Ukraine's president said his country would not "legally recognize" the Russian occupation of Crimea.
The United States is promoting a cease-fire agreement contingent on Ukraine's recognition of Russia's control of the Black Sea peninsula that President Vladimir Putin annexed in 2014. Russia staged a full-scale invasion in 2022.
"Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page of The Wall Street Journal that, “Ukraine will not legally recognize the occupation of Crimea. There’s nothing to talk about here,” Trump wrote.
"This statement is very harmful to the Peace Negotiations with Russia in that Crimea was lost years ago under the auspices of President Barack Hussein Obama, and is not even a point of discussion. Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? The area also houses, for many years before “the Obama handover,” major Russian submarine bases."
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Trump continued, "It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War. He has nothing to boast about! The situation for Ukraine is dire — He can have Peace or, he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country."
Trump maintained that he has "nothing to do with Russia" except for wanting to save the 5,000 Russian and Ukrainian solders who are killed each week.
"The statement made by Zelenskyy...will do nothing but prolong the 'killing field,' and nobody wants that!" Trump wrote. "We are very close to a Deal, but the man with 'no cards to play' should now, finally, GET IT DONE. I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this Complete and Total MESS, that would have never started if I were President!"