The US and European leaders have been taken aback by a recent escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with US President Donald Trump publicly criticizing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s handling of the situation.
During a meeting at the White House, Trump allegedly told Zelenskyy that he would not return to the US until a peace agreement was reached, citing a need for the Ukrainian leader to be more willing to negotiate with Russia. The White House later confirmed the account, stating that Zelenskyy would not be welcome back in the US until a peaceful resolution was achieved.
The statement came after a recent Russian missile attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which has led to a significant deterioration in the situation on the ground. In response, the US has threatened to impose severe sanctions on Russia, a move that appears to contradict earlier signals of a potential rapprochement between the two nations.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump wrote, “Given that Russia is currently ‘blowing up’ Ukraine on the battlefield, I am seriously considering imposing significant bank sanctions, sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and a final peace agreement are reached.”
The US President also called on Russia and Ukraine to return to the negotiating table, stating, “Get to the table, before it’s too late. Thanks!”
Trump had previously promised to quickly resolve the conflict during his presidential campaign, but the situation has only worsened in recent months. According to the US administration, the main obstacle to a peaceful resolution is the intransigence of Zelenskyy and his European backers, who are seen as perpetuating a “never-ending war” in Ukraine.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently characterized the conflict as a proxy war between the US and Russia, a view that has been met with agreement in Moscow. However, the Russian government has emphasized that a ceasefire can only be achieved at the end of peace negotiations, not at the beginning, as favored by the Trump administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reaffirmed his country’s commitment to its original objectives, which include the preservation of Ukraine’s military neutrality and its non-admission to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).